BILL AS INTRODUCED H.351
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H.351 1
Introduced by Representative Headrick of Burlington 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Motor vehicles; operator’s licenses; operator’s privilege cards; 5
nondriver identification cards 6
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to make 7
operator’s licenses, privilege cards, and nondriver identification cards valid for 8
eight years; to provide individuals with low income reduced fees for operator’s 9
licenses, privilege cards, and nondriver identification cards; to require the 10
Department of Motor Vehicles to develop a plan to ensure that identification 11
cards contain an individual’s full, legal name and are available to unhoused 12
individuals and individuals without a permanent residence; and to require the 13
Department of Motor Vehicles to conduct outreach to make Vermonters aware 14
of certain information related to obtaining an operator’s license, privilege card, 15
or nondriver identification card. 16
An act relating to operator’s licenses, privilege cards, and nondriver 17
identification cards 18
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 19
Sec. 1. 23 V.S.A. § 601 is amended to read: 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.351
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§ 601. LICENSE REQUIRED 1
* * * 2
(b)(1)(A) All operator’s licenses issued under this chapter shall expire, 3
unless earlier cancelled, at midnight on the eve of the second or fourth 4
anniversary of the date of birth of the license holder following eight years after 5
the date of issue. Renewed licenses shall expire at midnight on the eve of the 6
second or fourth anniversary of the date of birth of the license holder following 7
the date the renewed license expired eight years after the date the renewed 8
license is issued. 9
(B) On or before July 1, 2029, an individual holding an operator’s 10
licenses that is valid until the individual’s second or fourth date of birth 11
following the date of issue may exchange that license for an operator’s license 12
that will expire at midnight eight years after the date on which the original 13
license was issued. The fee for an operator’s license obtained pursuant to an 14
exchange under the provisions of this subdivision (1) shall be $85.00 if a two-15
year operator’s license was exchanged and $62.00 if a four-year operator’s 16
license was exchanged. 17
(2) All junior operator’s licenses shall expire, unless earlier cancelled, at 18
midnight on the eve of the second anniversary of the date of birth of the license 19
holder following the date of issue. 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.351
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(3) A person born on February 29 shall, for the purposes of this section, 1
be considered as born on March 1. 2
* * * 3
Sec. 2. 23 V.S.A. § 603 is amended to read: 4
§ 603. APPLICATION FOR AND ISSUANCE OF LICENSE 5
(a)(1) The Commissioner or his or her the Commissioner’s authorized 6
agent may license operators and junior operators when an application, on a 7
form prescribed by the Commissioner, signed and sworn to by the applicant for 8
the license, is filed with him or her the Commissioner, accompanied by the 9
required license fee and any valid license from another state or Canadian 10
jurisdiction is surrendered. 11
(2) The Commissioner may, however, in his or her the Commissioner’s 12
discretion, refuse to issue a license to any person whenever he or she the 13
Commissioner is satisfied from information given him or her the 14
Commissioner by credible persons, and upon investigation, that the person is 15
mentally or physically unfit or, because of his or her the person’s habits or 16
record as to crashes or convictions, is unsafe to be trusted with the operation of 17
motor vehicles. A person refused a license under the provisions of this 18
subsection shall be entitled to hearing as provided in sections 105–107 of this 19
title. 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.351
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(3) Any new or renewal application form shall include a space for the 1
applicant to request that a “veteran” designation be placed on his or her the 2
applicant’s license certificate. An applicant who requests the designation shall 3
provide a Department of Defense Form 214 or other proof of veteran status 4
specified by the Commissioner. 5
* * * 6
(d) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section: 7
(1) A citizen of a foreign country shall produce his or her the 8
individual’s passport and visa, alien registration receipt card (green card), or 9
other proof of legal presence for inspection and copying as a part of the 10
application process for an operator’s license, junior operator’s license, or 11
learner’s permit. 12
(2) An operator’s license, junior operator’s license, or learner’s permit 13
issued to a citizen of a foreign country shall expire coincidentally with his or 14
her the individual’s authorized duration of stay. 15
(e)(1) A citizen of a foreign country unable to establish legal presence in 16
the United States who furnishes reliable proof of Vermont residence and of 17
name, date of birth, and place of birth, and who satisfies all other requirements 18
of this chapter for obtaining a license or permit, shall be eligible to obtain an 19
operator’s privilege card, a junior operator’s privilege card, or a learner’s 20
privilege card. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.351
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(2) The Commissioner shall require applicants under this subsection to 1
furnish a document or a combination of documents that reliably proves the 2
applicant’s name, date of birth, and place of birth. The Commissioner may 3
prescribe the documents or combination of documents that meets these criteria. 4
However, the Commissioner shall accept a combination of two or more of the 5
following documents to establish the name, date of birth, and place of birth of 6
an applicant: 7
(A) a valid foreign passport, with or without a U.S. Customs and 8
Border Protection entry form or stamp; 9
(B) a valid consular identification document issued by the 10
government of Mexico or of Guatemala or by any other government with 11
comparable security standards and protocols, as determined by the 12
Commissioner; and 13
(C) a certified record of the applicant’s birth, marriage, adoption, or 14
divorce, including a translation if necessary. 15
(3) The Commissioner shall require applicants under this subsection to 16
furnish a document or a combination of documents that reliably proves the 17
applicant’s Vermont residence. The Commissioner may prescribe the 18
documents or combination of documents that meets these criteria. However, 19
the Commissioner shall accept the following combinations of documents as 20
proof of Vermont residence: 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.351
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(A)(i) two pieces of mail received by the applicant within the prior 1
30 days with the applicant’s current name and residential Vermont address; 2
and 3
(ii) at least one of the documents specified in subdivision (B) of 4
this subdivision (3); or 5
(B) two of the following that show name and residential Vermont 6
address: 7
(i) a vehicle title or registration; 8
(ii) a document issued by a financial institution, such as a bank 9
statement; 10
(iii) a document issued by an insurance company or agent, such as 11
an insurance card, binder, or bill; 12
(iv) a document issued by an educational institution, such as a 13
transcript, report card, or enrollment confirmation; 14
(v) federal tax documents, such as W-2 or 1099 forms; 15
(vi) State tax documents, such as an IN-111; and 16
(vii) medical health records, receipts, or bills. 17
(f) Persons able to establish lawful presence in the United States but who 18
otherwise fail to comply with the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005, 19
Pub. L. No. 109-13, §§ 201–202, shall be eligible for an operator’s privilege 20
card, a junior operator’s privilege card, or a learner’s privilege card, provided 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.351
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the applicant furnishes reliable proof of Vermont residence and of name, date 1
of birth, and place of birth, and satisfies all other requirements of this chapter 2
for obtaining a license or permit. The Commissioner shall require applicants 3
under this subsection to furnish a document or a combination of documents 4
that reliably proves the applicant’s Vermont residence and his or her the 5
applicant’s name, date of birth, and place of birth. 6
* * * 7
(h) A privilege card issued under this section shall: 8
(1) on its face bear the phrase “privilege card” and text indicating that it 9
is not valid for federal identification or official purposes; and 10
(2) expire at midnight on the eve of the second birthday of the applicant 11
following eight years after the date of issuance or, at the option of an applicant 12
for an operator’s privilege card and upon payment of the required four-year 13
fee, at midnight on the eve of the fourth birthday of the applicant following the 14
date of issuance. 15
* * * 16
(j) On or before July 1, 2029, an individual holding a privilege card under 17
this section that is valid until the individual’s second or fourth date of birth 18
following the date of issue may exchange that license for a privilege card that 19
will expire at midnight eight years after the date on which the privilege card 20
was issued. The fee for a privilege card obtained pursuant to an exchange 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.351
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under the provisions of this subsection shall be $85.00 if a two-year privilege 1
card was exchanged and $62.00 if a four-year privilege card was exchanged. 2
Sec. 3. 23 V.S.A. § 608 is amended to read: 3
§ 608. FEES 4
(a)(1) The four-year fee required to be paid the Commissioner for licensing 5
an operator of motor vehicles or for issuing an operator’s privilege card shall 6
be $62.00. The two-year fee required to be paid the Commissioner for 7
licensing an operator or for issuing an operator’s privilege card shall be $39.00 8
The eight-year fee required to be paid the Commissioner for licensing an 9
operator of motor vehicles or for issuing an operator’s privilege card shall be 10
$124.00, and the two-year fee for licensing a junior operator or for issuing a 11
junior operator’s privilege card shall be $39.00. 12
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection: 13
(A) for an individual whose household income is less than 150 14
percent of the Federal Poverty Level, the eight-year fee required to be paid the 15
Commissioner for licensing an operator of motor vehicles or for issuing an 16
operator’s privilege card shall be $0.00; and 17
(B) for an individual whose household income is less than 200 18
percent of the Federal Poverty Level, the eight-year fee required to be paid the 19
Commissioner for licensing an operator of motor vehicles or for issuing an 20
operator’s privilege card shall be $62.00. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.351
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(b)(1) An additional fee of $4.00 per year shall be paid for a motorcycle 1
endorsement. The endorsement may be obtained for either a two-year or four-2
year an eight-year period, to be coincidental with the length of the operator’s 3
license. 4
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection: 5
(A) for an individual whose household income is less than 150 6
percent of the Federal Poverty Level, the additional fee for a motorcycle 7
endorsement shall be $0.00 per year; and 8
(B) for an individual whose household income is less than 200 9
percent of the Federal Poverty Level, the additional fee for a motorcycle 10
endorsement shall be $2.00 per year. 11
Sec. 4. 23 V.S.A. § 115 is amended to read: 12
§ 115. NONDRIVER IDENTIFICATION CARDS 13
* * * 14
(b)(1) Every identification card shall expire, unless earlier canceled, at 15
12:00 midnight on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the date of birth of the 16
cardholder following eight years after the date of original issue and may be 17
renewed every four eight years upon payment of a $29.00 fee. 18
(2) A renewed identification card shall expire, unless earlier canceled, at 19
12:00 midnight on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the date of birth of the 20
cardholder following eight years after the expiration of the card being renewed. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.351
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(3) At least 30 days before an identification card will expire, the 1
Commissioner shall mail first-class to the cardholder or send the cardholder 2
electronically an application to renew the identification card; a cardholder shall 3
be sent the renewal notice by mail unless the cardholder opts in to receive 4
electronic notification. 5
(4) On or before July 1, 2029, an individual holding an identification 6
card that is valid until the individual’s fourth date of birth following the date of 7
issue may exchange that identification card for an identification card that will 8
expire eight years after the date on which the original identification card was 9
issued. The shall be no fee to exchange a four-year identification card for an 10
eight-year identification card pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision. 11
(5) An individual born on February 29 shall, for the purposes of this 12
section, be considered as born on March 1. 13
* * * 14
(l)(1) The Commissioner shall issue identification cards to Vermont 15
residents who are not U.S. citizens but are able to establish lawful presence in 16
the United States if an applicant follows the procedures and furnishes 17
documents as required under subsection 603(d) of this title and any applicable 18
policies or adopted rules, and otherwise satisfies the requirements of this 19
section. The identification cards shall expire consistent with subsection 603(d) 20
of this title. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.351
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(2) The Commissioner shall issue non-REAL ID compliant 1
identification cards to Vermont residents unable to establish lawful presence in 2
the United States if an applicant follows the procedures and furnishes 3
documents as required under subsection 603(e) of this title and any applicable 4
policies or adopted rules, and otherwise satisfies the requirements of this 5
section. 6
(3) The Commissioner shall issue non-REAL ID compliant 7
identification cards to Vermont residents able to establish lawful presence in 8
the United States but who otherwise fail to comply with the requirements of 9
the REAL ID Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-13, §§ 201–202, if the applicant 10
follows the procedures and furnishes documents as required under subsection 11
603(f) of this title and any applicable policies or adopted rules, and otherwise 12
satisfies the requirements of this section. 13
(4) A non-REAL ID compliant identification card issued under 14
subdivision (2) or (3) of this subsection shall bear on its face text indicating 15
that it is not valid for federal identification or official purposes. 16
* * * 17
Sec. 5. INTENT; REPORT 18
(a) It is the intent of the General Assembly that: 19
(1) individuals be able to obtain an operator’s license, privilege card, or 20
nondriver identification that accurately reflects the individual’s full, legal 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.351
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name, including individuals with multiple first or last names, or whose names 1
contain special characters; and 2
(2) unhoused individuals and individuals without a permanent residence 3
be able to obtain an operator’s license, privilege card, or nondriver 4
identification. 5
(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall, on or before December 31, 6
2025, report to the House and Senate Committees on Transportation regarding: 7
(1) the Department’s ability to issue operator’s licenses, privilege cards, 8
and nondriver identification cards that accurately reflects the holder’s full, 9
legal name; 10
(2) any technological, practical, or legal impediments that prevent the 11
Department from issuing operator’s licenses, privilege cards, and nondriver 12
identification cards that accurately reflect the holder’s full, legal name; 13
(3) any measures necessary to address the impediments identified 14
pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection; 15
(4) legal and practical issues that prevent or limit the Department’s 16
ability to issue operator’s licenses, privilege cards, and nondriver 17
identifications to individuals who are unhoused or who lack a permanent 18
residence; 19 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.351
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(5) a proposed process to enable the Department to issue operator’s 1
licenses, privilege cards, and nondriver identifications to individuals who are 2
unhoused or who lack a permanent residence; and 3
(6) any legislative action necessary to implement the process described 4
pursuant to subdivision (5) of this subsection. 5
Sec. 6. OUTREACH 6
(a) On or before November 15, 2025, the Department of Motor Vehicles 7
shall develop and implement a public education and outreach campaign to 8
inform Vermont residents about: 9
(1) an individual’s rights to obtain an operator’s license, privilege card, 10
or nondriver identification card; 11
(2) the ability to obtain an operator’s license, privilege card, or 12
nondriver identification card that expires eight years after the date of issue; 13
(3) an individual’s rights to self-attest with respect to the gender marker 14
on the individual’s operator’s license, privilege card, or nondriver 15
identification card; and 16
(4) reduced fees and fee waivers that are available to households that 17
meet certain income thresholds. 18
(b) The education and outreach campaign shall include printed materials 19
and public service announcements on television, radio, internet, and social 20
media. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.351
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(c) Public service announcements created for the education and outreach 1
campaign shall be in both English and Spanish. Printed materials created for 2
the education and outreach campaign shall be in English, Spanish, and the next 3
eight most commonly spoken languages in Vermont. 4
Sec. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE 5
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 6