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Bill

Bill

SB 75

require an indication of United States citizenship status on a motor vehicle operator's license or permit, and on a nondriver identification card.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jessica Bahmuller and 11 co-sponsors

South Dakota law now requires citizenship status indicators on driver's licenses and ID cards, creating privacy and discrimination concerns despite overwhelming legislative approval.

Signed by the Governor on 2025-03-31 S.J. 539
#driverlicense #executive/judiciaryrequest #motorvehicles
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Bill Summary · SB 75

Legislative bill overview

SB 75 requires South Dakota to mark driver's licenses, permits, and nondriver identification cards with an indication of the cardholder's U.S. citizenship status. The bill was signed into law on March 31, 2025, with overwhelming bipartisan support (31-2 in the Senate).

Why is this important

This law affects millions of ID transactions annually, as it creates a visible citizenship marker on documents used for everyday activities like banking, air travel, and age verification. The requirement raises questions about data security, privacy, and potential discrimination in how the marked cards are treated by institutions and individuals.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy and security concerns: Marking citizenship status on a physical card could expose individuals to targeting, discrimination, or identity theft if cards are lost or stolen
  • Real ID Act compatibility: Federal standards for state driver's licenses may conflict with or complicate this requirement, potentially affecting interstate travel or federal building access
  • Implementation and accuracy: Determining and verifying citizenship status adds administrative burden and cost; errors could deny services to eligible citizens or grant documents to ineligible individuals
  • Discrimination risk: Visible citizenship markers could lead to disparate treatment in commerce, employment verification, or law enforcement interactions

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

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