Summary — HB 4473 (2025)
Status
- Introduced: March 12, 2025 (filed); introduced in House and read first time May 8, 2025.
- House action: Amended, passed to engrossment May 14; read 3rd time and passed by the House May 15, 2025 (record vote, engrossed).
- Sponsors: Reps. James DeSana, Schriver, Fox, Carra, and Woolford.
- Statutory target: Amends section 1 of 1972 PA 222 (MCL 28.291), as amended by 2023 PA 261.
- Next procedural step: Having passed the House, the bill awaits consideration by the Senate.
Purpose
- To revise the statutory rules governing issuance of Michigan official state personal identification cards and to expressly prohibit the secretary of state from issuing identification cards that comply with Title II of the federal Real ID Act of 2005 (Public Law 109‑13).
Key provisions and changes
- Real ID prohibition: Explicitly states the secretary of state shall not issue an official state personal identification card that complies with Title II of the Real ID Act of 2005.
- Identity and document requirements:
- Applicants must supply photographic identity documents, a birth certificate or other supporting documents, and other items necessary to verify identity, full legal name, date of birth, residence and mailing address, and citizenship or legal presence.
- Noncitizen applicants must provide documents demonstrating legal presence; the department must verify legal presence and may limit the ID term to the duration of legal presence.
- If the applicant’s legal name differs from presented documents, supporting name-change documentation is required.
- Social Security number (SSN) handling:
- SSN may be collected only to the extent required to comply with federal law.
- SSNs shall not be displayed on the physical ID card.
- Disclosure of SSNs is narrowly limited (e.g., certain federal transportation law compliance, child support proceedings, matching with state vital records, or as otherwise required by law).
- Applicants exempt from SSN requirements under law are not required to provide one.
- Special categories and verification:
- Department of Corrections (DOC) parole/release ID cards (containing legal name and photo) must be accepted as an identity document.
- Secretary of State must have electronic access to DOC prisoner information to verify identity for prisoner applicants.
- Secretary may enter agreements with the U.S. government to verify noncitizen legal presence, and may adopt rules for administration.
- Applicants who already hold a Michigan operator’s or chauffeur’s license are generally ineligible for a separate state ID unless that license is suspended, revoked, or restricted.
- Administrative and security requirements:
- Secretary must ensure physical security of production locations and security of card materials.
- Appeals: determinations of lack of legal presence may be appealed under MCL 600.631 (revised judicature act).
Who is affected
- Michigan residents seeking an official state personal identification card (including citizens and noncitizens).
- Noncitizen residents whose IDs would be limited by the duration of legal presence.
- Secretary of State operations (document verification, security, record-sharing).
- Prisoners/parolees seeking state IDs (DOC-issued ID acceptance).
- Individuals relying on a Real ID-compliant state ID for federal purposes (domestic air travel, certain federal facilities) — HB 4473 would prevent the state ID from being Real ID‑compliant.
Potential practical effects
- If enacted, Michigan-issued official state personal identification cards could not be used as Real ID credentials; residents who need Real ID-compliant identification for federal purposes may still need to obtain a compliant credential (e.g., a driver license if retained by other policy or exceptions).
- Noncitizen applicants’ ID validity would be tied to their authorized period of legal presence.
- Changes place specific limits on SSN use and display and strengthen certain procedural verification and appeal rights.
Note: This summary describes the introduced/engrossed House version of HB 4473 as of May 15, 2025. The bill must complete Senate consideration and be signed by the governor to become law; further amendments are possible.
