2007 House Bill 4505

Show citizenship on drivers license

Introduced in the House

March 21, 2007

Introduced by Rep. Chris Ward (R-66)

To require that if a person is a U.S. citizen, his or her drivers license would indicate this, prohibit the Secretary of State office from issuing a drivers license to a person who it determines is in the U.S. illegally, and require that the expiration date of a drivers license issued to a non-citizen expires on the date on which his or her presence in the U.S. becomes illegal.

Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Investigations

Feb. 6, 2008

Referred to the Committee on Transportation

Feb. 7, 2008

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that narrows it to just prohibiting the Secretary of State office from issuing a drivers license to a person who it determines is in the U.S. illegally, and requiring certain documents be presented to show an applicant is a citizen or is in the U.S. legally.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-22)

To clarify that the definition of state "resident" means someone who is resident in this state and is legally present in the U.S. Note: In late 2007 there was confusion regarding a Michigan Attorney General opinion that was interpreted by the Secretary of State office as preventing it from issuing driver’s licenses to temporary residents. The Attorney General said that was not correct. This amendment would make the statute clear.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-22)

To require a person applying for a state drivers license and who has a valid drivers license issued by another state to confirm that he or she has or is terminating the other state license.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Substitute offered by Rep. Philip LaJoy (R-21)

The substitute passed 92 to 13 (details)

Substitute offered by Rep. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-22)

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-22)

To require a person applying for a state drivers license and who has a valid drivers license issued by another state to confirm that he or she has or is terminating the other state license.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 103 to 2 (details)

To prohibit the Secretary of State office from issuing a drivers license to a person who it determines is in the U.S. illegally, and require certain documents be presented an applicant is a citizen or is in the U.S. legally. Unlike Senate Bills 962 and 963 the bill does not contain all the provisions of the federal REAL ID Act, including real-time confirmation of social security numbers, bar codes on the drivers license with certain personal identification items, and more.

Received in the Senate

Feb. 12, 2008

Referred to the Committee on Transportation

Feb. 14, 2008

Substitute offered

To replace the House-passed version of the bill with one that adds a provision establishing that a license issued to a resident alien expires on the day the person's legal status in the U.S. ends.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 38 to 0 (details)

To prohibit the Secretary of State office from issuing a drivers license to a person who it determines is in the U.S. illegally, and require certain documents be presented an applicant is a citizen or is in the U.S. legally. Unlike Senate Bills 962 and 963 the bill does not contain all the provisions of the federal REAL ID Act, including real-time confirmation of social security numbers, bar codes on the drivers license with certain personal identification items, and more. It does establish that a license issued to a resident alien expires on the day the person's legal status ends.

Received in the House

Feb. 14, 2008

Substitute offered

To adopt the same substitute to the House-passed version of the bill that the Senate adopted, which adds a provision establishing that a license issued to a resident alien expires on the day the person's legal status in the U.S. ends.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 99 to 5 (details)