The House passed a bill Tuesday evening to repeal a ban on Minnesota officials researching steps toward complying with a federal law to upgrade driver's licenses, giving the Department of Public Safety a two-week deadline to report back to the legislature.
Minnesota moves closer to planning for Real ID
The House passed a bill Tuesday evening to repeal a ban on Minnesota officials researching steps toward complying with a federal law to upgrade driver's licenses, giving the Department of Public Safety a two-week deadline to report back to the legislature.
March 30, 2016 at 1:11AM
The measure will be sent to the Senate for approval before Gov. Mark Dayton is expected to sign it into law, bringing the state closer to a resolution of a years-long dispute over the federal Real ID Act that was intended to boost national security when it became law in 2005.
The bill, which passed 125-2, maintains a ban on implementing the Real ID law without further legislative action.
Once the law is approved, Public Safety Commissioner will request temporary relief for residents who need the upgraded identification to enter military bases and federal buildings, along with air travel until 2020. Minnesota is one of only five states that has not complied with the federally-requested upgrades after lawmakers refused to act in 2009, citing privacy and other concerns.
"There are a number of privacy concerns and other specifics to debate, but repealing the ban on DPS is a needed first step," Rep. Dennis Smith, R-Maple Grove said in a statement.
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