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HB 247

Motor Vehicles – Provisional Driver’s License Examinations – Unaccompanied Homeless Youths

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kris Fair and 8 co-sponsors

HB 247 permits unaccompanied homeless youths to obtain provisional driver's licenses without proof of residency, removing barriers to identification and employment opportunities for vulnerable populations.

Hearing 1/30 at 1:30 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 247

Legislative bill overview

HB 247 allows unaccompanied homeless youths to take provisional driver's license examinations without requiring proof of residency or a permanent address. The bill modifies Maryland's motor vehicle licensing requirements to accommodate individuals experiencing homelessness who lack traditional documentation.

Why is this important

Driver's licenses serve as critical identification documents for employment, housing applications, and accessing services—many of which homeless youth need to transition out of homelessness. Current residency requirements create a bureaucratic barrier that disproportionately affects vulnerable young people who cannot provide a stable address, potentially trapping them in cycles of poverty and limiting economic mobility.

Potential points of contention

  • Administrative feasibility: Concerns about how the Motor Vehicle Administration will verify applicant identity and prevent fraud without standard address documentation
  • Cost and logistics: Questions about whether the state bears costs for testing homeless youth and whether special accommodations are needed for exam scheduling and retesting
  • Definition and verification: Debate over how "unaccompanied homeless youth" is defined and what documentation would be required to prove this status while avoiding abuse

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

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