REAL ID compliance bill headed to Idaho House

BOISE – An Idaho House panel has tentatively signed off on a proposal that would allow Idaho to comply with national proof-of-identity requirements.

The House Transportation and Defense Committee voted 9-8 Monday on legislation that would lift Idaho’s 2008 ban on complying with the REAL ID requirements mandated by the federal government.

However, lawmakers only approved the bill after agreeing to send it to the amending order after several members raised concerns over the legislation’s wording.

Since Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005, Idaho lawmakers have rejected its tough regulations because they deemed it an unfunded mandate. The federal law has had several implementation delays, but access to some federal facilities is now restricted. Such an ID could be required to board commercial aircraft later this year, though the federal government hasn’t given a firm timeline on access to flights.

Idahoans have yet to face restrictions because the federal government has granted several compliance extensions.