Driver's license; prescribe information to be included on and authorize discretionary inclusion of blood type.

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To: Judiciary A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Thompson

HOUSE BILL NO. 539

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-1-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
SPECIFY THE REQUIRED AND OPTIONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION TO BE 2
INCLUDED ON DRIVER'S LICENSES ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING 3
THE OPTION TO INDICATE THE LICENSEE'S BLOOD TYPE IF MEDICAL 4
DOCUMENTATION VERIFYING SUCH IS PRESENTED AT THE TIME OF LICENSE'S 5
ISSUANCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. Section 63-1-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 8
amended as follows: 9
63-1-35. (1) (a) The Commissioner of Public Safety shall 10
prescribe the form of license issued pursuant to this article 11
which shall, among other features, include a driver's license 12
number assigned by the Department of Public Safety. A licensee 13
shall list his social security number with the department which 14
shall cross reference the social security number with the driver's 15
license number for purposes of identification. Additionally, each 16
license shall bear a full-face color photograph of the licensee in 17
such form that the license and the photograph cannot be separated. 18
The photograph shall be taken so that one (1) exposure will 19
photograph the applicant and the application simultaneously on the 20
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same film. The department shall use a process in the issuance of 21
a license with a color photograph that shall prevent as nearly as 22
possible any alteration, counterfeiting, duplication, 23
reproduction, forging or modification of the license or the 24
superimposition of a photograph without ready detection. The 25
photograph shall be replaced by the department at the time of 26
renewal. Drivers' licenses, including photographs appearing 27
thereon, may be renewed by electronic means according to rules and 28
regulations promulgated by the commissioner in conformity to 29
Section 27-104-33. 30
(b) In addition to the information required for 31
applications for license or permit under paragraph (a) of this 32
section, the commissioner: 33
(i) Shall require specific identifying information 34
to be indicated on the front face of driver's licenses by the 35
department at the time of issuance, including, but not limited to, 36
the licensee's: 37
1. Date of birth; 38
2. Sex; 39
3. Race; 40
4. Natural eye color; 41
5. Natural hair color; 42
6. Weight; 43
7. Height; 44
8. Address of residence; and 45
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(ii) Shall authorize any licensee who, in his or 46
her discretion, desires to have included on the reverse side of 47
his or her driver's license an indication of: 48
1. A preference to be an organ donor; or 49
2. The specification of his or her blood 50
type, provided that at the time of issuance or renewal of the 51
license, medical documentation is presented verifying the 52
licensee's blood type. 53
(2) The commissioner shall prescribe the form of license 54
issued pursuant to this article to licensees who are not United 55
States citizens and who do not possess a social security number 56
issued by the United States government. The license of such 57
persons shall include a number and/or other identifying features. 58
(3) Any new, renewal or duplicate driver's license, 59
temporary driving permit or commercial driver's license issued to 60
a person required to register as a sex offender pursuant to 61
Section 45-33-25 shall bear a designation identifying the licensee 62
or permittee as a sex offender. 63
(4) The commissioner is authorized to provide the new, 64
renewal or duplicate driver's license, temporary driving permit or 65
commercial driver's license to any honorably discharged veteran as 66
defined in Title 38 of the United States Code, and such license or 67
permit shall exhibit the letters "Vet" or any other mark 68
identifying the person as a veteran. The veteran requesting the 69
"Vet" designation shall present his DD-214, Military Retiree 70
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ST: Driver's license; prescribe information to
be included on and authorize discretionary
inclusion of blood type.
Identification Card, United States Department of Veterans Affairs 71
Medical Identification Card, United States Department of Veterans 72
Affairs Identification Card or National Guard Form NGB 22. The 73
veteran requesting the "Vet" designation may present his DD-214, 74
Military Retiree Identification Card, United States Department of 75
Veterans Affairs Medical Identification Card, United States 76
Department of Veterans Affairs Identification Card or National 77
Guard Form NGB 22 in person at the Mississippi Department of 78
Public Safety Driver's License Station. 79
(5) Not later than July 1, 2021, the commissioner shall 80
develop and implement a driver's license or driving permit in 81
electronic format as an additional option for license or permit 82
holders. Acceptable electronic formats include display of 83
electronic images on a cellular phone or any other type of 84
electronic device. 85
(6) If false documents are provided by an individual for 86
purposes of obtaining a veteran driver's license, such action 87
shall be considered fraudulent use of identity under Section 88
97-19-85, * * * and shall be punishable, upon conviction, as a 89
felony pursuant to the provisions of that section. 90
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 91
and after July 1, 2026. 92