Countdown to REAL ID (December 31, 2009) Following the deadline of May 11, 2008, state driver's licenses and identification cards were not to be accepted for federal purposes unless the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) determined that a state was compliant with the REAL ID or a state had been approved for an extension by the Secretary of DHS.  All 56 U.S. jurisdictions have received an initial extension from the Secretary of the DHS.  The initial extension is valid until December 31, 2009.   DHS estimates the costs for states to implement the REAL ID will not exceed $3.9 billion. To date, Congress has appropriated only $150 million to assist states with implementation of the REAL ID.

Federal Releases + Analysis

Full Text of Title II of the REAL ID Act of 2005 Joint NCSL/NGA/AAMVA National Impact Analysis Costs to the States History of the REAL ID Act Related Federal Legislation DHS FY 2008 REAL ID Grant Awards (state by state) DHS FY 2008 REAL ID Grant Guidance DHS Final Regulations to Implement the REAL ID NCSL Summaries & Analysis Legisbrief DHS Privacy Impact Assessment on the Final Regulations - January 11, 2008 DHS FY 2009 REAL ID Grant Guidance

State Response

NCSL Resolution on the PASS ID Act - May 29, 2009 NCSL Policy on the REAL ID Act - December 13, 2008 Database of State Legislation Legislators, Governors respond to release of REAL ID regulations - January 11, 2008 NCSL Supports the Identification Security Enhancement Act of 2007 (S. 717) - April 4, 2008 NCSL President, Representative Donna Stone of Delaware, testifies before a U.S. Senate Subcommittee - April 29, 2008 NCSL testifies before the Mississippi House Transportation Committee - August 19, 2008

Other Resources

American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States (9/11 Commission) National Governors Association U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Department of Homeland Security REAL ID Page U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary

Last Updated: May 29, 2009