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Committee Approves Driver's'license Citizenship Verification Bill After Technical Q&A
Summary
The committee passed HB 1708, which requires citizenship or lawful-resident verification for some new driver's licenses and certain plate issuances; the bill's amendment extends temporary-language accommodations and clarifies acceptable electronic formats. Vote: 16 ayes, 3 noes.
Representative Capli presented HB 1708, saying the bill "will ensure that the driver's license issued in Tennessee will only be issued to an American citizen or legal resident of this country," and describes procedures for verification on new issuance and some renewals.
Members pressed the sponsor on implementation details, including whether the Department of Safety currently issues licenses or REAL IDs to noncitizens, how kiosks and electronic formats would be handled, and whether the state would provide English-language support for people required to take tests in English after a temporary period. The sponsor and legal counsel said the amendment extended a temporary language accommodation period from 12 to 18 months and that acceptable electronic formats could include display on a cell phone consistent with an existing statutory electronic-licensing program. Legal counsel Joel Hayes clarified that the bill's electronic-format language could encompass driver's-license images on phones under a law authorizing electronic issuance.
The committee voted the bill out to finance; the clerk recorded 16 ayes and 3 noes.
