Committee approves ID change to mark non‑U.S. citizens on driver licenses and ID cards; color change proposed
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CHEYENNE — The Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday voted 5‑0 to advance Senate File 33, a bill that would require Wyoming driver licenses and identification cards issued to non‑U.S. citizens to carry a designation indicating their noncitizen status.
The bill directs the Department of Transportation to include language on the credential indicating the holder is not a U.S. citizen; the department and Secretary of State Chuck Gray said the change is intended to provide clearer information to election officials when verifying voter eligibility.
Misty Zimmerman, program manager for Wyoming Driver Services, told the committee the department sought a January 2026 effective date to align the change with an ongoing driver‑license modernization project and a change of card vendor. She said the bill as drafted would require the words “not a United States citizen” printed on the credential but acknowledged card space is limited and that a shorter label or a symbol may be more practical.
Secretary of State Chuck Gray testified in full support, saying the designation would “provide clarity in the election administration space to ensure non citizens are not allowed to vote.” Gray told the committee that election judges often work under time pressure and that a clear notation on the credential would help identify noncitizen registrants during in‑person registration or day‑of voting.
Committee amendments and costs: Senator Anderson successfully moved an amendment to replace the draft phrase with the shorter text “NOT US.” Senator Kolb offered and the committee approved a second amendment directing that the credential banner for non‑U.S. citizen real‑ID‑compliant cards be printed in green to distinguish those cards from standard licenses and other state IDs; the committee and agency witnesses noted changing card color increases production costs and may require a change to the card substrate. Department staff gave a ballpark fiscal estimate for changing a card banner color at about $250,000 and indicated roughly 10,000 cards might be involved; the department said it would provide final figures during implementation and through rulemaking.
Department staff suggested the label or symbol could be placed in existing personalization space on the back of the card to preserve security features on the front. Committee members discussed alternative approaches — abbreviated text, a symbol, or a distinctive banner color — and approved the shorter label and the green banner amendment at committee.
Committee action: The committee approved the bill and the two amendments on voice and roll‑call votes and asked members of the committee to carry SF33 to the Senate floor.
What’s next: If enacted, the department will incorporate the designation into driver‑license and ID card production and will follow its vendor transition and modernization schedule. Committee members directed the department to provide fiscal details and production counts during rulemaking and implementation planning.
The bill directs the Department of Transportation to include language on the credential indicating the holder is not a U.S. citizen; the department and Secretary of State Chuck Gray said the change is intended to provide clearer information to election officials when verifying voter eligibility.
Misty Zimmerman, program manager for Wyoming Driver Services, told the committee the department sought a January 2026 effective date to align the change with an ongoing driver‑license modernization project and a change of card vendor. She said the bill as drafted would require the words “not a United States citizen” printed on the credential but acknowledged card space is limited and that a shorter label or a symbol may be more practical.
Secretary of State Chuck Gray testified in full support, saying the designation would “provide clarity in the election administration space to ensure non citizens are not allowed to vote.” Gray told the committee that election judges often work under time pressure and that a clear notation on the credential would help identify noncitizen registrants during in‑person registration or day‑of voting.
Committee amendments and costs: Senator Anderson successfully moved an amendment to replace the draft phrase with the shorter text “NOT US.” Senator Kolb offered and the committee approved a second amendment directing that the credential banner for non‑U.S. citizen real‑ID‑compliant cards be printed in green to distinguish those cards from standard licenses and other state IDs; the committee and agency witnesses noted changing card color increases production costs and may require a change to the card substrate. Department staff gave a ballpark fiscal estimate for changing a card banner color at about $250,000 and indicated roughly 10,000 cards might be involved; the department said it would provide final figures during implementation and through rulemaking.
Department staff suggested the label or symbol could be placed in existing personalization space on the back of the card to preserve security features on the front. Committee members discussed alternative approaches — abbreviated text, a symbol, or a distinctive banner color — and approved the shorter label and the green banner amendment at committee.
Committee action: The committee approved the bill and the two amendments on voice and roll‑call votes and asked members of the committee to carry SF33 to the Senate floor.
What’s next: If enacted, the department will incorporate the designation into driver‑license and ID card production and will follow its vendor transition and modernization schedule. Committee members directed the department to provide fiscal details and production counts during rulemaking and implementation planning.
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