House Bill No. 5057, or File No. 268, seeks to amend the existing laws regarding drive-only licenses in the state, with changes to take effect on January 1, 2025. The bill outlines the documentation required for applicants who cannot prove legal presence in the U.S. or lack a Social Security number, including proof of state residency and identity, and mandates an affidavit to legalize immigration status when possible. It prohibits issuing licenses to individuals convicted of a felony in Connecticut and requires a knowledge test for a class D motor vehicle operator's license. The bill also extends the license validity from three to eight years, adjusts the fees, and removes the "for driving purposes only" marking and the non-eligibility for voting indication on the license, while still marking it as not acceptable for federal identification purposes.

The bill's financial implications include an increase in the initial and renewal fees for drive-only licenses from $36 to $96, which is projected to generate additional revenue for the DMV, estimated at $600,000 in FY 25 and $1,260,000 in FY 26. Additionally, there may be a one-time cost of less than $50,000 in FY 25 for necessary DMV system reprogramming. The Transportation Committee has passed the bill with a Joint Favorable report, with a vote of 23 Yea to 13 Nay on March 18, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Governor's Bill: 14-36m
TRA Joint Favorable: 14-36m
File No. 268: 14-36m