Minnesota House panel rejects electronic ID bill
A Minnesota House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee on Monday voted down HF 1335, a bill by Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL–Shakopee) that would have let the Department of Public Safety roll out electronic versions of driver’s licenses and state IDs for use on smartphones. Tabke pitched the system as the ID equivalent of Apple Pay or Google Pay and noted that 14 other states already use similar technology, but the proposal failed to clear the committee, effectively stalling it for this session. The panel also rejected an amendment that would have limited eligibility for electronic credentials to people who could prove U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, a move clearly aimed at tightening ID access in the middle of highly charged immigration politics. For Minneapolis–St. Paul residents, the vote means no digital ID option is coming anytime soon — you’re still stuck with the plastic card in your wallet even as REAL ID enforcement bites at airports — and it signals that lawmakers are nowhere near consensus on how much to modernize IDs or who should be allowed to hold them.
📌 Key Facts
- HF 1335, sponsored by Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL–Shakopee), would have authorized DPS to create and regulate electronic driver’s licenses and IDs, including setting usage limits and fees.
- The House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee failed to approve the bill on Monday, preventing it from advancing this session.
- An amendment to restrict electronic ID eligibility to people who could prove U.S. citizenship or lawful presence also failed.
- Tabke argued the system would provide 'convenience, security and safety' and said Minnesota would join 14 other states that already offer similar digital credentials.
📊 Relevant Data
Minnesota has an estimated 81,000 unauthorized immigrants as of recent data.
Profile of the Unauthorized Population - MN — Migration Policy Institute
Minnesota enacted a law in 2023 allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses regardless of immigration status.
Governor Walz Signs Bill Expanding Access to Driver's Licenses — Minnesota Governor's Office
Approximately 107,000 people of Somali descent live in Minnesota as of 2024, representing about 2% of the state's population.
By the numbers: Minnesota's Somali population, according to Census data — KTTC
Somali immigration to Minnesota began in the 1990s due to refugee resettlement programs following the Somali civil war, leading to chain migration and community growth.
How Minnesota became a hub for Somali immigrants in the U.S. — WYPR
About 8.4% of Minnesota's residents are foreign-born as of recent estimates.
Immigrants in Minnesota — American Immigration Council
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