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Bill

HB 248

Motor Vehicle Administration - Identification Cards, Licenses, and Permits - Repeal of Color Photograph Requirement

2026 Regular Session

HB 248 eliminates Maryland's requirement for color photographs on motor vehicle IDs, licenses, and permits, potentially weakening identity verification and age verification processes.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 116
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 248

Legislative bill overview

HB 248 repeals Maryland's requirement that motor vehicle identification cards, licenses, and permits include color photographs. The bill would allow the Motor Vehicle Administration to issue these documents without the photographic identification component that currently serves as a standard security and identification feature.

Why is this important

Color photographs on driver's licenses and ID cards serve multiple critical functions: they enable law enforcement to verify identity during traffic stops, facilitate age verification for regulated purchases, and provide security against document fraud. Removing this requirement could significantly impact public safety protocols, business operations that rely on ID verification, and the document's utility as a nationally-recognized form of identification.

Potential points of contention

  • Public safety and law enforcement concerns: Police and security personnel depend on photo IDs for identity verification; removing photos could compromise traffic enforcement and criminal investigations
  • Compliance with federal standards: REAL ID Act requirements and other federal identification standards may mandate photo requirements, creating conflicts with state law
  • Age verification and fraud prevention: Retailers, bars, and other businesses rely on photo IDs to prevent underage sales and identity fraud; removal could create enforcement challenges
  • Practical utility: Photo IDs function as widely-accepted identification for banking, travel, and other transactions; non-photo versions may have limited acceptance

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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