HB 527 would require identification card and driver’s license applicants to show proof of “citizenship status” to the Idaho Department of Transportation in order to obtain an ID card or license.
HB 527 needlessly erects barriers that will make it that much more difficult for Idahoans to obtain identification cards— cards that are often necessary to secure housing and employment. It costs money to obtain the documents required to show proof of citizenship. The combined cost of document fees, travel expenses and waiting time are estimated to range from $75 to $175. Additionally, the travel required to obtain these documents is often a major burden on people with disabilities, the elderly, or those in rural areas without access to a car or public transportation.