Bill Analyses and Ratings

Rating: –1

Bill Summary:
H0078 establishes a framework for electronic driver’s licenses and electronic identification cards in Idaho. It amends multiple sections of Title 49 and adds new sections (§49-315A and §49-2444A) to authorize the Idaho Transportation Department to develop and manage digital credentials that can be stored and displayed on mobile devices. These electronic versions must comply with AAMVA (American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators) standards and ISO/IEC 18013-5 guidelines. The bill includes privacy provisions, rulemaking authority for the department, and legal recognition of digital IDs as equivalent to physical documents. It also affirms that individuals can retain possession of their devices when showing electronic IDs to law enforcement. Portions of the bill go into effect July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026.

Reason for Rating:
While presented as a modernization measure, H0078 introduces an unnecessary expansion of digital identity infrastructure that conflicts with the Idaho Republican Party Platform’s principles of limited government and protection of individual privacy. The bill delegates broad authority to the Idaho Transportation Department to develop systems compliant with national and international standards (AAMVA and ISO), which could open the door to federal or third-party surveillance and data sharing. It also potentially lays groundwork for centralized digital identification systems that, over time, could erode civil liberties and facilitate coercive enforcement mechanisms. No compelling case is made in the bill for why existing physical credentials are insufficient, and the move toward digital IDs aligns more with globalist trends than the Idaho GOP’s emphasis on personal freedom and state sovereignty.