Motor Vehicle Administration - Identification Cards - Issuance to Minors

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0023*

HOUSE BILL 23
R2 6lr1439
(PRE–FILED)
By: Delegate Woods
Requested: October 29, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Motor Vehicle Administration – Identification Cards – Issuance to Minors 2

FOR the purpose of prohibiting the Motor Vehicle Administration from requiring a parent 3
or legal guardian of a minor at least a certain age to cosign or be present at the time 4
of submission of the minor’s application for an identification card; requiring t he 5
Administration to adopt regulations establishing acceptable forms of documentation 6
establishing proof of residency that a minor at least a certain age may use in an 7
application for an identification card; and generally relating to State –issued 8
identification cards for minors. 9

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – Transportation 11
Section 12–301(a) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16

Article – Transportation 17

12–301. 18

(a) (1) On application, the Administration shall issue an identification card to 19
any applicant who: 20

[(1)] (I) Is a resident of this State; 21

[(2)] (II) Does not have a driver’s license; 22
2 HOUSE BILL 23

[(3)] (III) Presents a birth certificate or other proof of age and identity 1
acceptable to the Administration; 2

[(4)] (IV) Provides satisfactory documentary evidence that the applicant 3
has lawful status; 4

[(5) (i)] (V) 1. Provides satisfactory documentary evidence that 5
the applicant has a valid Social Security number by presenting the applicant’s Social 6
Security Administration account card or, if the Social Security Administration account card 7
is not available, any of the follo wing documents bearing the applicant’s Social Security 8
number: 9

[1.] A. A current W–2 form; 10

[2.] B. A current SSA–1099 form; 11

[3.] C. A current non–SSA–1099 form; or 12

[4.] D. A current pay stub with the applicant’s name and 13
Social Security number on it; or 14

[(ii)] 2. Provides satisfactory documentary evidence that the 15
applicant is not eligible for a Social Security number; and 16

[(6)] (VI) Presents a completed application for an identification card on a 17
form furnished by the Administration. 18

(2) THE ADMINISTRATION MAY NO T REQUIRE A PARENT O R LEGAL 19
GUARDIAN OF A MINOR AT LEAST 15 YEARS OF AGE TO COSI GN OR BE PRESENT AT 20
THE TIME OF SUBMISSION OF THE MINOR ’S APPLICATION FOR AN IDENTIFICATION 21
CARD. 22

(3) (I) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS 23
ESTABLISHING ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF DOCUMENTATION ESTABLISHING PROOF OF 24
RESIDENCY THAT A MINOR AT LEAST 15 YEARS OF AGE MAY USE IN AN APPLICATION 25
FOR AN IDENTIFICATION CARD, INCLUDING: 26

1. SCHOOL ENROLLMENT RECORDS, REPORT CARDS, OR 27
TRANSCRIPTS ISSUED BY A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOL; 28

2. DOCUMENTATION FROM A HOMELESS SERVICES 29
PROVIDER, SHELTER, OR SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY THAT VERIFIES RESIDENCY; 30

3. COURT DOCUMENTS; 31
HOUSE BILL 23 3

4. CHILD WELFARE AGENCY RECORDS; 1

5. HEALTH INSURANCE DOCUMENTS; 2

6. IF ACCOMPANIED BY SUFFICIENT DOCUMENTA TION 3
ESTABLISHING PROOF OF THE ADULT ’S RESIDENCE , A NOTARIZED AFFIDAVIT 4
SIGNED BY AN ADULT WITH WHOM THE MINOR RESIDES ATTESTING TO THE MINOR’S 5
RESIDENCY; OR 6

7. ANY OTHER DOCUMENT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION 7
DETERMINES APPROPRIATE. 8

(II) IF A MINOR AT LEAST 15 YEARS OF AGE IS UNABLE TO 9
PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION THAT SATISFIES THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE FEDERAL 10
REAL ID ACT, THE ADMINISTRATION MAY ISSUE AN IDENTIFICATION CARD THAT 11
IS NOT COMPLIANT WITH THE FEDERAL REAL ID ACT. 12

(III) THIS PARAGRAPH MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO LIMIT THE 13
ADMINISTRATION’S AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE DOCUMENTATION NECESSARY TO 14
COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE FEDERAL REAL ID ACT, INCLUDING 15
DOCUMENTATION ESTABLISHING PROOF OF RESIDENCY. 16

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 17
October 1, 2026. 18