Legislature(2025 - 2026)GRUENBERG 120
04/16/2025 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB180 | |
| HB137 | |
| HB97 | |
| HB156 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 97 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 180 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 137 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 156 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 180-ELECTRONIC DRIVER'S LICENSES
4:32:40 PM
CHAIR GRAY announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 180, "An Act relating to the powers of the
commissioner of administration with respect to motor vehicles;
relating to electronic identification cards; relating to
electronic driver's licenses and permits; and providing for an
effective date."
4:33:15 PM
ERIC DEMOULIN, Director, Division of Administrative Services,
Department of Administration (DOA), presented HB 180, on behalf
of the House Rules Standing Committee, sponsor by request of the
governor. He said the bill authorizes DOA to offer electronic
drivers licenses in conjunction with the physical identification
(ID) cards. The bill is designed to strengthen privacy concerns
and clarify legal procedures for law enforcement. It would
ensure that digital licenses are convenient without compromising
existing standards. He reiterated that it would maintain the
requirement for individuals to retain a physical ID card.
4:34:43 PM
FORREST WOLFE, Legislative Liaison, Department of Administration
(DOA), on behalf of the House Rules Standing Committee, sponsor
by request of the governor, shared the sponsor statement for HB
180 [included in the committee packet], which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
Section 1: This section adds the word "physical" into
Alaska Statute 18.65.310(a) to distinguish that a
"physical" Identification Card will now be $15.
Section 2: This section amends Alaska Statute
18.65.310 by adding a new subsection which establishes
that upon application, the department may issue an
electronic identification card to a person who
currently possesses a physical identification card,
and that the electronic identification cards can be a
digital companion to physical identification cards,
yet it is still mandated that a person retain their
physical identification card. This section also
requires the department to adopt regulations governing
the issuance and use of electronic identification
cards. Additionally, the section includes privacy
protections by explicitly stating that presenting an
electronic ID to law enforcement does not grant
permission for officers to search or access any other
data on the mobile device while also granting them
immunity from liability for any damage to the device
unless intentional misconduct is involved.
Section 3: This section adds the word "physical" into
Alaska Statute 18.65.320(b) to specify that if an
identification card is cancelled, they would need to
return the physical card to the department.
Section 4: This section adds a new subsection into
Alaska Statute 28.05.021 which will allow the
Commissioner of Administration to enter into
agreements with a law enforcement agency, a
governmental agency or program or a data exchange
service.
Section 5: This section adds the word "physical" into
Alaska Statute 28.05.051 to state that if a license is
suspended, revoked, or cancelled, they would need to
return the physical card to the department. This
section also allows for designated officials to take
possession of a physical license in the event of
invalidity.
Section 6: This section amends Alaska Statute
28.15.011(b) to require all drivers to have a physical
or electronic driver's license when operating a motor
vehicle.
Section 7: This section amends Alaska Statute 28.15 by
adding authority in a new section for the Department
of Administration to begin issuing electronic driver's
licenses or permits to customers who possess a
physical driver's license or permit, which they will
be required to retain. This section also requires the
Commissioner to adopt regulations for issuance and use
of electronic licenses and permits along with an
option for the commissioner to require the physical
driver's license be carried on their person in certain
circumstances. Lastly, this section requires
the department to display notice of revocation,
cancellation, limitation, restriction, or suspension
across the front of the electronic license.
Section 8: This section adds "physical or electronic"
into Alaska Statute 28.15.131(a) which requires a
driver to always have a driver's license in their
possession when driving a motor vehicle.
Section 9: This section adds a new subsection to
Alaska Statute 28.15.131 to protect the drivers'
privacy by prohibiting officers from accessing other
data on mobile devices when checking an electronic
license. It also grants immunity to law enforcement
from liability for damage to a mobile device when
verifying an electronic driver's license, except in
cases of intentional misconduct.
Section 10: This section amends Alaska Statute
28.15.151(a) to add retention requirements of every
application for an electronic driver's license or
permit as well as copies of the electronic licenses
and permits.
Section 11: This section adds the word "physical" into
Alaska Statute 28.15.165(b) to signify a law
enforcement officer to seize the physical driver's
license after failure of a sobriety test or refusal to
submit to a chemical test.
Section 12: This section amends Alaska Statue
28.15.166(a) by adding clarifying language mandating a
driver to surrender their physical license when
requesting an administrative review.
Section 13: This section adds the word "physical" into
Alaska Statute 28.15.182(d) to signify the Alaska
Court System shall require the surrender the physical
driver's license when issuing a Limited License in the
circumstance of an accident which caused the death of
another.
Section 14: This section amends Alaska Statue
28.15.183(b) by adding clarifying language ensuring
law enforcement to seize a driver's physical license
or physical permit.
Section 15: This section adds the word "physical" into
Alaska Statute 28.15.184(a) to signify a customer who
is a minor must surrender the physical driver's
license upon request of an administrative hearing if
it wasn't seized previously by law enforcement.
Section 16: This section amends Alaska Statue
28.15.187(b) by adding clarifying language ensuring
law enforcement to seize a driver's physical license
or physical permit when violating any driving laws.
Section 17: This section amends Alaska Statue
28.15.189(a) by adding clarifying language mandating a
driver to surrender their physical license when
requesting a revocation review.
Section 18: This section amends Alaska Statue
28.15.191(c) by adding clarifying language mandating
courts must forward surrendered physical licenses to
the DMV when issuing a suspension or revocation.
Section 19: This section amends Alaska Statue
28.15.191(g) by adding clarifying language mandating
courts must forward surrendered physical licenses to
the DMV when a driver is ordered to refrain from
consuming alcoholic beverages as part of their
sentencing.
Section 20: This section amends Alaska Statue
28.15.191(h) by adding clarifying language mandating
parole boards to require a person to surrender their
physical license and identification card when subject
to cancellation.
Section 21: This section amends Alaska Statue
28.15.201(b) by adding clarifying language to require
the surrender of a physical driver's license when
courts issue limited driving privileges.
Section 22: This section adds the word "physical" into
Alaska Statute 28.20.560(a) to signify when a customer
whose license or registration is suspended, or whose
policy of insurance or bond is canceled or terminated
shall surrender the physical license to the
department. This section also adds clarifying language
which states if a license isn't surrendered then DMV
should contact the Department of Public Safety to
immediately direct an officer to obtain possession of
the license or registration.
Section 23: This section amends AS 28.22.041(d) to
require the surrender of the physical license when the
DMV issues a limited license following a suspension
for failing to comply with the mandatory insurance
laws.
Section 24: This section amends Alaska Statute
28.33.100 by adding subsection (j) which provides
authority to issue an electronic commercial driver's
license.
Section 25: This section amends Alaska Statute
28.33.140(i) which clarifies that a person
disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle
must surrender their physical license to the
department.
Section 26: This section amends Alaska Statute
28.35.034 to state that a person who has their license
or permit revoked under Alaska Statute 28.15.165 or
Alaska Statute 28.15.181 must surrender their physical
license.
Section 27: This section amends Alaska Statute
33.16.150(i)to require that parolees who are ordered
to refrain alcohol must surrender their physical
license and that physical license must be forwarded to
the department.
Section 28: This section provides an immediate
effective date per AS 01.10.070(c).
4:40:33 PM
LAUREN WHITESIDE, Operations Manager, Division of Motor Vehicles
(DMV), Department of Administration (DOA), expressed support for
HB 180. Over the past two years, DMV has worked diligently to
develop and implement the Alaska mobile ID ("MID") as a secure
and convenient digital representation of a driver's license or
state ID that upholds the high standards of security and user
privacy. The MID offers enhanced security features compared to
physical IDs and allows users to control the personal
information they share while allowing them to verify their
identity or age without disclosing unnecessary details. The MID
is stored securely on the user's device and requires user
consent before any information is transmitted. Currently, the
MID is available as a companion to the physical driver's license
or ID cards at no additional cost to residents who choose to opt
in. The DMV is actively working on the application process for
MID acceptance at the U.S. Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) checkpoints and hopes for approval by late
2025.
4:42:57 PM
CHAIR GRAY asked whether the electronic ID would be Real ID
compliant.
MS. WHITESIDE answered yes, the MID would signify whether the
user is Real ID compliant with the Real ID star and a U.S.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) compliance field to show
either an "F" for fully compliance or an "N" for not compliant.
4:44:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked whether the MID would pertain to other
types of IDs as well, such as prisoner IDs.
MR. DEMOULIN said it's restricted to driver's license and state
ID cards.
4:44:34 PM
CHAIR GRAY asked whether electronic IDs would be accepted from
other states.
MS. WHITESIDE said the answer is multifaceted as some states are
operating on a cooperative research agreement with TSA;
otherwise, all other states are in different stages of working
towards implementing mobile credentials.
CHAIR GRAY sought to confirm that a physical ID would still be
needed to fly through TSA in any other state.
MS. WHITESIDE said the MID would be a companion to the physical
card, which would still be required at all times.
4:47:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EISCHEID pointed out that the Municipality of
Anchorage (MOA) passed a mandatory ID check for the sale of
alcohol at restaurants and bars, and asked whether the MID would
qualify as an acceptable form of ID for those sales.
MS. WHITESIDE said the use of the MID would be dependent on
businesses that opt in to become a verifier. She explained that
to accept the ID, the verifying application must be utilized.
4:48:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE questioned the purpose of the MID if the
physical ID would still be required.
MS. WHITESIDE said the appeal is identity protection. The
physical IDs show all individual's personal information whereas
the MID would offer the ability to choose which information is
shared. She added that it's a consent driven application that
would also provide convenience.
4:50:05 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE relayed concerns about the contractors that
were selected for the Real IDs; its implementation due to the
biometrics; and data protection. She asked Ms. Whiteside to
address these concerns.
MS. WHITESIDE sought to clarify the question.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked whether Alaskans could still get a
driver license that does not include biometric data.
MS. WHITESIDE responded yes; a noncommercial driver could opt to
get a non-real ID credential.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked whether the Real ID vender is
domestic.
MS. WHITESIDE reported that the state has contracted with Thales
for the past decade to produce its ID credentials. All of
Thales's ID personalization is done in a secure facility in the
U.S., despite being headquartered in France.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked what assurances could be given to the
public about data security.
MS. WHITESIDE said the application was developed using
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards
and the American Association of Motor Vehicles Administrators
(AAMVA) best practices guidelines. Further, Alaska is one of
the first five states to be a part of the AAMVA mobile digital
trust services, which means it has undergone the highest type of
audit and was developed with the highest standards of data and
privacy protections.
4:54:49 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP sought to confirm that the current version
of HB 180 would still require the physical license to be carried
when operating a vehicle.
MS. WHITESIDE answered yes.
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP asked whether this policy could be amended
nor or at a later date.
MS. WHITESIDE did not know the answer.
4:56:17 PM
CHAIR GRAY asked whether the DMV had considered expanding this
policy for other types of licenses.
MR. WOLFE said ADF&G already has electronic hunting and fishing
licenses. He added that expanding the policy to include
professional licenses could be considered in the future.
CHAIR GRAY asked whether the verification tool would need to be
purchased by businesses.
MS. WHITESIDE said the verification application is available to
download free of cost.
CHAIR GRAY asked whether it would work for electronic IDs in
other states.
MS. WHITESIDE said it would work for any application developed
under current ISO standards.
4:58:03 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked whether DMV had been working with the
Department of Public Safety (DPS).
MS. WHITESIDE answered yes, DMV partnered with DPS since the
beginning.
CHAIR GRAY asked whether the entity verifying the ID could
request to see the customer's physical ID card.
MS. WHITESIDE confirmed that all businesses and law enforcement
would have the ability to set their own policies for MID
acceptance.
5:00:36 PM
CHAIR GRAY announced that HB 180 would be held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 156 A.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 156 |
| HB 156 FN Labor Workforce Dev.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 156 |
| HB 156 LOS AFL-CIO 04.09.25.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 156 |
| HB 156 LOS IBEW 04.11.25.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 156 |
| HB 156 LOS NAACP 04.09.25.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 156 |
| HB 156 Sectional Analysis Version A.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 156 |
| HB 156 Sponsor Statement Version A.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 156 |
| HB 180 Sectional Analysis version A 4.9.25.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 180 |
| HB 180 Hearing Request 4.9.25.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 180 |
| HB 180 version A.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 180 |
| HB 180 FN DOA-DMV.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 180 |
| HB 97 Amendment 4 Gray.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
| HB 97 Amendment 2 Gray.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
| HB 97 Amendment 3 Gray.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
| HB 97 Amendment 1 Vance.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
| HB 156 Support Letter AFL-CIO.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 156 |
| HB97 (H) Judiciary Response Letter 4-9-25.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 97 |
| HB 137 Sectional Analysis Version A.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 137 |
| HB 137 Sponsor Statement Version A.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 137 |
| HB 137 Amendment 2 Eischeid.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 137 |
| HB 137 Amendment 1 Eischeid.pdf |
HJUD 4/16/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 137 |