An Act allowing blood types to be printed on licenses to operate motor vehicles

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Bridget Plouffe

Allows voluntary printing of a license holder’s blood type on REAL-ID or standard Massachusetts licenses, with RMV implementation for opt-in.

Comprehensive Summary: Bill HD 3963 — An Act allowing blood types to be printed on licenses to operate motor vehicles

Quick overview

Bill number: HD 3963 (House Docket No. 3963)

Title: An Act allowing blood types to be printed on licenses to operate motor vehicles

Sponsor: Representative Bridget Plouffe (Brockton)

Introduced / Filed: January 17, 2025 (House Docket No. 3764); related petition filed in 2025; this version appears in the 2025-2026 General Court cycle

Status: Proposed bill (House and Senate in the 2025-2026 session)

What the bill would do

The bill amends Section 8 of Chapter 90 of the General Laws to permit an applicant for a driver’s license or renewal to provide the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) with the applicant’s blood type.

If an applicant chooses, their blood type would be printed on their REAL-ID-compliant license or a Massachusetts license.

The RMV is required to make provision for applicants or licensees who opt to have their blood type listed on the license.

Key provisions

Voluntary disclosure on license: Printing of blood type is optional for the licensee; no mandate to display medical information beyond what the applicant consents to.

Scope of licensing documents: Applies to both REAL-ID-compliant licenses and standard Massachusetts licenses.

Implementation requirement: The registrar (RMV) must provide a mechanism to list the blood type for those who opt in.

Who would be affected

License applicants and holders who wish to have their blood type printed on their license.

RMV/registrar operations would need to accommodate a new data field and printing process on the license for those opting in.

Potential indirect effects on emergency responders or healthcare providers who access driver license information as part of an incident scene.

Practical and policy considerations

Potential benefits: In emergencies, having a readily visible blood type could aid rapid medical decision-making where time is critical.

Privacy and security considerations: Printing blood type on a public document may raise privacy concerns and risk of misuse; the bill does not specify additional safeguards or who may access the information beyond standard license viewing.

Costs and logistics: The text does not specify funding or implementation timelines; would likely require changes to license production processes and potential updates to license design.

Precedent and context: Similar measures have been pursued before (see House No. 3282 of 2023-2024), indicating ongoing legislative interest in making medical information more readily available on licenses.

Timeline and procedural notes

No explicit effective date is provided in the bill excerpt. If enacted, implementation would hinge on RMV rulemaking and production adjustments, followed by a transition period for stochastic uptake by applicants.

Bottom line

HD 3963 proposes a voluntary option for Massachusetts license holders to have their blood type printed on their license (REAL-ID or standard). The change would require RMV implementation but is designed to be optional, balancing potential emergency-use benefits with privacy considerations.