SAFE Driving Requirements

Full Title:
SAFE Driving Laws Act

Summary#

This bill would withhold certain federal highway funds from States that issue driver’s licenses to people who do not have proof of United States citizenship or lawful permanent residence, or that restrict sharing immigration enforcement information. Beginning in fiscal year 2027, the Secretary of Transportation must withhold 50 percent of amounts apportioned under 23 U.S.C. 104(b)(1) and (2) for any State not meeting the bill’s requirements. To be compliant, a State must have a law prohibiting issuance of a driver’s license or commercial driver’s license to someone without proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residence, and must not prohibit collection or sharing of immigration enforcement information with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Secretaries of Transportation and DHS must check each State’s compliance and keep a publicly available database showing each State’s status. The bill defines “immigration enforcement information” to include a person’s citizenship or immigration status and the date, time, and location of release from detention, jail, or prison.

What it means for you#

  • If you apply for a driver’s license in a State that follows this bill’s rules, the State would require proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status to issue a regular or commercial driver’s license.
  • States that do not meet the requirements could lose half of certain federal highway funds starting in fiscal year 2027.
  • State and local agencies could collect and send immigration enforcement information to DHS, and those records would be reflected in a public compliance database maintained by the Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill’s stated purpose is to stop individuals without U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency from obtaining driver’s licenses where those States allow it, and to ensure States do not block the collection or sharing of immigration enforcement information. The bill’s mechanism is withholding specified highway funds and publishing State compliance status.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.