State identification; authorize permanent identification for permanent residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

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To: Judiciary B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Anderson (122nd)

HOUSE BILL NO. 31

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 45-35-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
AUTHORIZE PERMANENTLY DISABLED PERSONS WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF 2
NURSING HOMES OR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES TO RECEIVE A PERMANENT 3
STATE IDENTIFICATION CARD WITHOUT CHARGE OF A FEE; AND FOR RELATED 4
PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. Section 45-35-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 7
amended as follows: 8
45-35-7. (1) (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of 9
this subsection (1), each applicant for an original or renewal 10
identification card issued pursuant to this chapter who is 11
entitled to issuance of such a card shall be issued a four-year 12
card or an eight-year card, at the option of the applicant. Each 13
card shall expire at midnight on the cardholder's birthday and may 14
be renewed any time within six (6) months before the expiration 15
date of the card upon application and payment of the required fee. 16
(b) Any applicant who is blind, as defined in Section 17
43-6-1, upon payment of the fee prescribed in Section 63-1-43, 18
shall be issued an original or renewal identification card which 19
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shall remain valid for a period of eight (8) years, shall expire 20
at midnight on the cardholder's birthday, and may be renewed any 21
time within six (6) months before the expiration date of the card 22
upon application and payment of the required fee. 23
(2) (a) Any applicant who is not a United States citizen, 24
upon payment of the fee prescribed in Section 63-1-43, shall be 25
issued an original or renewal identification card which shall 26
expire four (4) years from date of issuance or on the expiration 27
date of the applicant's authorized stay in the United States, 28
whichever is the lesser period of time, and may be renewed, if the 29
person is otherwise qualified to renew the license, within thirty 30
(30) days of expiration. 31
(b) An applicant for an original or renewal 32
identification card under paragraph (a) must present valid 33
documentary evidence documenting that the applicant: 34
(i) Is a citizen or national of the United States; 35
(ii) Is an alien lawfully admitted for permanent 36
or temporary residence in the United States; 37
(iii) Has conditional permanent residence status 38
in the United States; 39
(iv) Has an approved application for asylum in the 40
United States or has entered into the United States in refugee 41
status; 42
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(v) Has a valid, unexpired nonimmigrant visa or 43
nonimmigrant visa status for entry into or lawful presence in the 44
United States; 45
(vi) Has a pending application for asylum in the 46
United States; 47
(vii) Has a pending or approved application for 48
temporary protected status in the United States; 49
(viii) Has approved deferred-action status; 50
(ix) Has pending an application for adjustment of 51
status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent 52
residence in the United States or conditional permanent resident 53
status in the United States; or 54
(x) Has a valid employment authorization card 55
issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security. 56
(3) The fee for the issuance of an original or renewal 57
identification card shall be as prescribed in Section 63-1-43. 58
(4) (a) Any person who, for medical reasons, surrenders his 59
unexpired driver's license, and any person whose unexpired 60
driver's license is suspended for medical reasons by the 61
Commissioner of Public Safety under Section 63-1-53(2)(e), upon 62
request shall be issued an identification card without payment of 63
a fee. The identification card shall be valid for a period of 64
four (4) years from its date of issue. Subsequent renewals shall 65
be subject to the fees prescribed in Section 63-1-43. 66
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(b) Any person who is permanently disabled and receives 67
hospice care in a residential home, or is a permanent resident of 68
a nursing home, assisted living facility, or hospice care facility 69
upon request, shall be issued a permanent identification card 70
without charge of a fee. The address of the nursing home, 71
assisted living facility, hospice care facility or residential 72
home in which hospice care is received shall be reflected on the 73
card as the address of residence. Such person shall also be 74
exempt from the renewal requirements of this section. Proof of 75
permanent disability and residency authorized by this paragraph 76
(b) shall be required for the exemption provided by this 77
paragraph. If the person moves out of the nursing home or 78
assisted living facility for any reason, the described exemption 79
shall not apply and the applicable fees and renewal requirements 80
of this section shall otherwise be applied. 81
(5) The department shall maintain a record of all 82
identification cards issued. 83
(6) (a) Any male who is at least eighteen (18) years of age 84
but less than twenty-six (26) years of age and who applies for an 85
identification card or a renewal of an identification card under 86
this chapter shall be registered in compliance with the 87
requirements of Section 3 of the Military Selective Service Act, 88
50 USCS Appx 451 et seq., as amended. 89
(b) The department shall forward in an electronic 90
format the necessary personal information of the applicant to the 91
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ST: State identification; authorize permanent
identification for permanent residents of
nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Selective Service System. The applicant's submission of the 92
application shall serve as an indication that the applicant either 93
has already registered with the Selective Service System or that 94
he is authorizing the department to forward to the Selective 95
Service System the necessary information for registration. The 96
commissioner shall notify the applicant on, or as a part of, the 97
application that his submission of the application will serve as 98
his consent to registration with the Selective Service System, if 99
so required. The commissioner also shall notify any male 100
applicant under the age of eighteen (18) that he will be 101
registered upon turning age eighteen (18) as required by federal 102
law. 103
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 104
and after July 1, 2026. 105