ST. PAUL, MN -- The Minnesota House passed House File 3, the bill to make Minnesota REAL ID compliant, on a bipartisan vote of 72-58. If action on REAL ID was not taken this session, Minnesota driver’s licenses would no longer be acceptable for boarding planes, entering federal facilities, and visiting military bases beginning January 22nd, 2018.
“We needed to take action on this bill to ensure Minnesotans do not face any issues when trying to travel on airplanes, and visit federal buildings and military facilities, said Rep. John Poston (R-Lake Shore). “This bill allows for anyone who wishes to opt out of getting a REAL ID, the option to do so by allowing them to use their current driver’s license and a passport instead.”
REAL ID is a federal law passed in 2005 with the goal to make it more difficult for potential terrorists to obtain fake identification cards by setting standards that states must meet for their driver’s licenses. Some federal facilities, including military bases, have already began to require those without compliant licenses to provide passports or other documentation in order to be admitted.
The Senate version of the bill, SF 166, is making its way through the committee process.
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