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To: Judiciary B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Karriem
HOUSE BILL NO. 411
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 63-1-13 AND 63-1-15, MISSISSIPPI 1
CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL TRAINING OF DRIVER'S LICENSE 2
PERSONNEL; TO AMEND SECTION 63-1-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 3
PROVIDE THAT THE REQUIREMENT THAT AN APPLICANT FOR A DRIVER'S 4
LICENSE PRESENT THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF 5
PUBLIC SAFETY SHALL NOT BE APPLICABLE TO A PERSON WHO FILES AN 6
AFFIDAVIT WITH THE DEPARTMENT AFFIRMING THAT THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN 7
ISSUED A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER; TO AMEND SECTION 63-1-19, 8
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PRESCRIBE THE TYPES OF DOCUMENTS THAT 9
AN APPLICANT FOR A MISSISSIPPI DRIVER'S LICENSE MAY PROVIDE TO THE 10
DRIVER'S LICENSE EXAMINER IN ORDER TO SHOW PROOF OF RESIDENCE; TO 11
CREATE NEW SECTION 63-1-20, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE 12
A CERTIFICATE FOR DRIVING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 13
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 14
SECTION 1. Section 63-1-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 15
amended as follows: 16
63-1-13. (1) The commissioner is hereby authorized and 17
empowered to appoint a Director of the Driver Services Division 18
who is a qualified elector of the State of Mississippi and who 19
meets the qualifications set by the State Personnel Board for the 20
position. Such director shall execute and furnish a bond in the 21
amount of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) with a surety company 22
authorized to do business in this state. The bond shall be 23
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conditioned on the faithful performance of his duties and be 24
subject to the approval of the commissioner. The director shall 25
have control and supervision of the Driver Services Division and 26
shall be answerable to the commissioner in the performance of his 27
duties. 28
(2) The commissioner shall employ such other technical, 29
professional and clerical assistants as may be needed to conduct 30
the work of the division. The commissioner is also authorized to 31
employ a Director of the Driver License Examining Bureau, who 32
meets the qualifications set by the State Personnel Board for the 33
position, and the necessary supervising examiners, who meet the 34
qualifications set by the State Personnel Board for the position, 35
to assist the Director of the Driver License Examining Bureau in 36
the supervision of the license personnel. The commissioner is 37
also authorized to employ the necessary additional personnel to 38
serve and be designated as "license examiners." The commissioner 39
shall employ such other technical, professional and clerical 40
assistants as may be needed to conduct the work of the bureau. 41
However, not later than July 1, 2021, the commissioner shall not 42
employ an active-service Highway Patrol Officer in the bureau. 43
(3) From and after July 1, 2026, the commissioner shall 44
ensure that each staff person employed under the authority of this 45
section be retrained to accept civil rights complaints. 46
SECTION 2. Section 63-1-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 47
amended as follows: 48
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63-1-15. (1) The Commissioner of Public Safety shall be 49
authorized to designate persons who may act as examiners for 50
license or instruction permits, and all such persons shall be 51
trained in compliance with the provisions of House Bill No. , 52
2026 Regular Session. 53
(2) It shall be the duty of the license examiners to forward 54
to the commissioner all applications rejected or approved in 55
accordance with such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by 56
the commissioner. 57
SECTION 3. Section 63-1-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 58
amended as follows: 59
63-1-35. (1) The Commissioner of Public Safety shall 60
prescribe the form of license issued pursuant to this article 61
which shall, among other features, include a driver's license 62
number assigned by the Department of Public Safety. A licensee 63
shall list his social security number with the department which 64
shall cross reference the social security number with the driver's 65
license number for purposes of identification. Additionally, each 66
license shall bear a full-face color photograph of the licensee in 67
such form that the license and the photograph cannot be separated. 68
The photograph shall be taken so that one (1) exposure will 69
photograph the applicant and the application simultaneously on the 70
same film. The department shall use a process in the issuance of 71
a license with a color photograph that shall prevent as nearly as 72
possible any alteration, counterfeiting, duplication, 73
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reproduction, forging or modification of the license or the 74
superimposition of a photograph without ready detection. The 75
photograph shall be replaced by the department at the time of 76
renewal. Drivers' licenses, including photographs appearing 77
thereon, may be renewed by electronic means according to rules and 78
regulations promulgated by the commissioner in conformity to 79
Section 27-104-33. 80
(2) The commissioner shall prescribe the form of license 81
issued pursuant to this article to licensees who are not United 82
States citizens and who do not possess a social security number 83
issued by the United States government. The license of such 84
persons shall include a number and/or other identifying features. 85
(3) Any new, renewal or duplicate driver's license, 86
temporary driving permit or commercial driver's license issued to 87
a person required to register as a sex offender pursuant to 88
Section 45-33-25 shall bear a designation identifying the licensee 89
or permittee as a sex offender. 90
(4) The commissioner is authorized to provide the new, 91
renewal or duplicate driver's license, temporary driving permit or 92
commercial driver's license to any honorably discharged veteran as 93
defined in Title 38 of the United States Code, and such license or 94
permit shall exhibit the letters "Vet" or any other mark 95
identifying the person as a veteran. The veteran requesting the 96
"Vet" designation shall present his DD-214, Military Retiree 97
Identification Card, United States Department of Veterans Affairs 98
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Medical Identification Card, United States Department of Veterans 99
Affairs Identification Card or National Guard Form NGB 22. The 100
veteran requesting the "Vet" designation may present his DD-214, 101
Military Retiree Identification Card, United States Department of 102
Veterans Affairs Medical Identification Card, United States 103
Department of Veterans Affairs Identification Card or National 104
Guard Form NGB 22 in person at the Mississippi Department of 105
Public Safety Driver's License Station. 106
(5) Not later than July 1, 2021, the commissioner shall 107
develop and implement a driver's license or driving permit in 108
electronic format as an additional option for license or permit 109
holders. Acceptable electronic formats include display of 110
electronic images on a cellular phone or any other type of 111
electronic device. 112
(6) If false documents are provided by an individual for 113
purposes of obtaining a veteran driver's license, such action 114
shall be considered fraudulent use of identity under Section 115
97-19-85, Mississippi Code of 1972, and shall be punishable, upon 116
conviction, as a felony pursuant to the provisions of that 117
section. 118
(7) An applicant who does not have, or who states that he or 119
she has never been issued, a social security number as required 120
under subsection (1) of this section, shall complete an affidavit, 121
under penalty of perjury, affirming that he or she has never been 122
issued a social security number. 123
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SECTION 4. Section 63-1-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 124
amended as follows: 125
63-1-19. (1) * * * Every applicant for a license or permit 126
issued pursuant to this article, or for renewal of such license or 127
permit, shall file an application for such license, permit or 128
renewal, on a form provided by the Department of Public Safety, 129
with the commissioner or an official license examiner of the 130
department. All persons not holding valid, unexpired licenses 131
issued in this state shall be required to secure an original 132
license, except those specifically exempted from licensing under 133
Section 63-1-7. The application shall state the name, date of 134
birth, the social security number of the applicant unless the 135
applicant is not a United States citizen and does not possess a 136
social security number issued by the United States government, 137
sex, race, color of eyes, color of hair, weight, height and 138
residence address, and whether or not the applicant's privilege to 139
drive has been suspended or revoked at any time, and, if so, when, 140
by whom, and for what cause, and whether any previous application 141
by him has been denied, and whether he has any physical defects 142
which would interfere with his operating a motor vehicle safely 143
upon the highways. 144
( * * *2) Every applicant for an original license shall 145
show proof of * * * residence in this state. * * * An applicant 146
for an original license may show proof of residence in this state 147
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by presenting to the license examiner at least two (2) of the 148
following documents: 149
(a) A utility bill, including telephone service, 150
showing a valid residential address; 151
(b) A bank statement showing a valid Mississippi 152
address; 153
(c) An acceptable employer verification, such as an 154
employment identification card, a letter from the employer on its 155
official letterhead or a payroll check or payroll check stub; 156
(d) An automobile, life or health insurance policy 157
showing a valid Mississippi address; 158
(e) A driver's license issued by the State of 159
Mississippi to a parent, legal guardian or spouse; 160
(f) A Mississippi motor vehicle registration showing a 161
valid Mississippi address; 162
(g) An Internal Revenue Service Tax Reporting W-2 Form; 163
(h) A receipt for personal or real estate taxes paid 164
within the last year showing a valid Mississippi address; 165
(i) A copy of a residential lease showing a valid 166
Mississippi address; 167
(j) If the applicant is a student enrolled in a public 168
or private school in Mississippi, a photo student identification 169
card and acceptable documentation that the student resides on 170
campus; or 171
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(k) A photo identification card issued by the 172
government of the applicant's country of origin. 173
(3) If an applicant is unable to provide at least two (2) of 174
the documents described in subsection (2) of this section, he or 175
she may provide one (1) of the documents described in subsection 176
(2) of this section and one (1) of the following documents: 177
(a) The Individual Taxpayer Identification Number 178
(ITIN) issued by the Internal Revenue Service; 179
(b) Form I-94 issued to the applicant by the United 180
States Immigration and Naturalization Service; 181
(c) An Employment Authorization Card (EAC) issued to 182
the applicant by the United States Immigration and Naturalization 183
Service; 184
(d) A permanent Residence Card issued to the applicant 185
by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service; or 186
(e) A stamp in a foreign passport issued by the United 187
States Immigration and Naturalization Service showing evidence of 188
lawful admission for permanent residence. 189
(4) The documents described in subsections (1) and (2) of 190
this section must include the applicant's name; if the applicant 191
has a spouse; the name of the applicant's spouse, or if the 192
applicant is a minor, the name of a parent or legal guardian. 193
These documents must also show the applicant's valid residence 194
address used on the application for the Mississippi driver's 195
license. 196
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Each application or filing made under this section, except as 197
otherwise provided under Section 63-1-35(2), shall include the 198
social security number(s) of the application in accordance with 199
Section 93-11-64. 200
( * * *5) Whenever a person who has applied for or who has 201
been issued a license or permit under this article moves from the 202
address listed in the application or on the permit or license, or 203
whenever the name of a licensee changes by marriage or otherwise, 204
such person, within thirty (30) days thereafter, shall notify, in 205
writing, the Department of Public Safety, Driver Services 206
Division, and inform the department of his or her previous address 207
and new address and of his or her former name and new name. The 208
department shall not change the name of a licensee or permittee on 209
his or her license or permit unless the applicant appears in 210
person at an office of the department and provides a certified 211
copy of his or her marriage license, court order, birth 212
certificate or divorce decree changing the licensee's or 213
permittee's name. 214
( * * *6) (a) Any male who is at least eighteen (18) years 215
of age but less than twenty-six (26) years of age and who applies 216
for a permit or license or a renewal of a permit or license under 217
this chapter shall be registered in compliance with the 218
requirements of Section 3 of the Military Selective Service Act, 219
50 USCS Section 3802, as amended. 220
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(b) The department shall forward in an electronic 221
format the necessary personal information of the applicant to the 222
Selective Service System. The applicant's submission of the 223
application shall serve as an indication that the applicant either 224
has already registered with the Selective Service System or that 225
he is authorizing the department to forward to the Selective 226
Service System the necessary information for registration. The 227
commissioner shall notify the applicant on, or as a part of, the 228
application that his submission of the application will serve as 229
his consent to registration with the Selective Service System, if 230
so required. The commissioner also shall notify any male 231
applicant under the age of eighteen (18) that he will be 232
registered upon turning age eighteen (18) as required by federal 233
law. 234
SECTION 5. The following shall be codified as Section 235
63-1-20, Mississippi Code of 1972: 236
63-1-20. (1) The Department of Public Safety may issue a 237
certificate for driving to persons whose presence in the United 238
States has been authorized by the federal government for a 239
specific purpose and for a specified period of authorized stay. 240
This certificate of driving shall be valid only during the period 241
of time of the applicant's authorized stay in the United States. 242
No certificate shall be issued for a period of less than one (1) 243
year or longer than five (5) years. 244
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(2) In addition to the purpose set out under subsection (1) 245
of this section, the Department of Public Safety may issue a 246
certificate for driving to persons with a disability. For a 247
person to obtain a certificate of driving under this subsection 248
(2), the person shall complete the driving test but shall not have 249
to complete the written test. A certificate of driving under this 250
subsection (2) shall only be valid for travel to and from the 251
person's work. Such certificate shall be issued for a period of 252
four (4) years. 253
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, all laws 254
applicable to driver's licenses and financial responsibility shall 255
also apply to certificates for driving. All laws applicable to 256
convictions, suspensions, cancellations and revocations of 257
driver's licenses shall also apply to certificates for driving. 258
(4) Any applicant applying for a certificate for driving, 259
upon initial issuance, renewal or reinstatement, shall meet the 260
requirements of this section. 261
(5) For the purposes of this section, "certificate for 262
driving" means a certificate issued by the department to an 263
individual who does not satisfy the requirements of Section 264
63-1-35 to obtain a driver's license. A certificate for driving 265
shall be clearly distinguishable from a driver's license and shall 266
clearly display on its face a phrase substantially similar to: 267
"FOR DRIVING PURPOSES ONLY - NOT VALID FOR IDENTIFICATION." 268
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ST: Driver's license; revise certain
requirements and create certificate for driving.
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from 269
and after July 1, 2026. 270