House

Bill 513
2016 Freedom Index Score (-1)
Analyst: Lindsay Russell Dexter
Date: March 3, 2016
ANALYSTS NOTE: Via House Bill 513 Idaho would implement the Federal REAL ID Act. That Act
establishes minimum security standards for state-issued drivers licenses and identification cards.
Further, the Act prohibits federal agencies from accepting, for official purposes, licenses and
identification cards from states that do not meet these standards.
Point No. 12: Does it violate the principles of federalism by increasing federal authority, yielding to
federal blandishments, or incorporating changeable federal laws into Idaho statutes or rules? Examples
include citing federal code without noting as it is written on a certain date, using state resources to
enforce federal law, and refusing to support and uphold the Tenth Amendment. Conversely, does it
restore or uphold the principles of federalism?
ANALYSIS: House Bill 513 removes the language in Chapter 40, Section 40-322, of the Idaho Code
that prevents the federal government from imposing regulations on Idahos state-issued drivers
licenses. The bill will require Idaho to implement all provisions of the REAL ID Act and to submit
status reports to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Though the bill's amendments offer
an improvement over the original version, HB 513 causes the state to acquiesce to federal edicts
in violation of constitutional principles. (-1)