Senate Transportation Committee Chair Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, joined by 27 members of the Senate Majority Caucus, has sent a formal letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem requesting a delay of the federal REAL ID enforcement date, currently set for May 7.
The letter is a direct response to growing concerns from Kentuckians across the state who are still unable to access driver’s licensing services due to limited appointment availability and long lines for walk-ins.
“This simple request is to protect Kentuckians from bureaucratic burdens,” Higdon said. “Rural residents, seniors, and families still have hurdles in front of them, and in a lot of cases, may not be aware of their options. Only about 40 percent of our residents have a REAL ID, but I would also like more time to help Kentuckians understand that they may not need a REAL ID. Kentucky has made a good faith effort, but we just aren’t there yet.”
He pointed out that standard driver’s licenses will still be valid for daily use within the state, and alternatives like U.S. passports or passport cards also meet federal requirements for air travel and access to secure facilities, such as military bases and some federal facilities. Higdon encouraged residents to review their options early and choose the form of identification that best fits their circumstances.
In their letter, the senators noted that the recently approved Senate Bill 43 allowing third party vendors to perform license renewals will not take effect until June 27, leaving a gap of more than a month after the current federal deadline, and that challenges continue to hinder Kentuckians’ ability to obtain a REAL ID, even though regional licensing offices are now open one Saturday a month.
Kentucky became REAL ID compliant in 2019 through legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2017. Because the state was the only one administering licensing through local circuit court clerks at the time, rather than a centralized Department of Motor Vehicles, it transitioned to a regional licensing model. The circuit court clerks’ offices were also not technologically equipped to handle the federally mandated responsibility. While the change to a regional model modernized operations, it created new frustrations for Kentuckians.
Higdon added, “We want Kentuckians to know that their concerns are valid and that their elected officials are doing what we can to make this whole process easier.”
(Photo: Senate Transportation Committee Chair Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon)
By Tom Latek, Kentucky Today
