On a party-line vote, Senate Democrats passed “Driver’s Licenses for All” legislation, which lowers the requirements to prove one’s identity in order to receive a standard state driver’s license and ID card. Senate Republicans proposed key amendments highlighting concerns with the bill, calling it an “all-access pass” for immigrants without legal status, terrorists, and criminals. Amendments included: denoting the license is for driving privileges only and cannot be used for voting, addressing a national security loophole that would allow its use to access federal buildings and domestic flights before the REAL ID standards are enforced, ensuring traffic safety, and requiring data sharing for the purposes of helping victims of crime.  

“Today’s bill creates an ID for those who cannot prove who they are or where they live, and my concern is that there is no way for us to know and verify their information, therefore creating a critical safety concern for Minnesota,” said Senator Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake). “In 2003, Minnesota proactively tightened licensing laws in a response to the tragic events of September 11. Congress went one step further and passed REAL ID legislation in 2005, which Minnesota then voted to implement in 2017. We have set a standard of prioritizing safety—today’s bill undermines those efforts.

As legislators, we have a duty to protect Minnesotans not just on the roads, but in their homes and as they travel. Today’s bill unravels the good laws we’ve put in place ensuring that very security. Senate Republicans offered a number of amendments to make this a workable bipartisan bill, but Democrats once again voted down every commonsense measure we put forward. I worry about the long-term effects of this bill, but I’m also gravely worried about the precedent we are setting for future lawmaking in our state. Minnesotans expect us to work together across party lines for bipartisan solutions. Unfortunately, Democrats have repeatedly refused to give us the opportunity to do so and have ignored the concerns of half of the state’s residents.”