House Bill No. [insert bill number] introduces a "driving privilege card" designed to provide a legal means for individuals who cannot obtain a standard driver's license to operate a motor vehicle. The bill outlines eligibility criteria, application procedures, and the content of the card, which will not permit the operation of commercial vehicles and will expire two years after issuance or on the holder's 21st birthday if they are aged 19 or 20 at the time of issuance. Applicants must provide proof of identity, Montana residency, and lawful presence in the U.S., with specific documentation requirements. The bill also includes provisions for revocation of the card if the holder is in removal proceedings or has been ordered removed from the U.S., and it ensures that individuals cannot be discriminated against based on their possession of the card.

Additionally, the bill amends various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) related to driver's licenses and driving privilege cards, including waiving skills tests for certain applicants and implementing records checks for commercial driver's license applications. It allows for the surrender of out-of-state licenses for a Montana license under specific conditions and authorizes the department to enter into reciprocity agreements with foreign countries. Significant changes include the introduction of digital or hard copy driver's licenses acceptable for identification starting September 1, 2025, and the establishment of a program for qualifying applicants to obtain a digital version of their license. The bill mandates the department to adopt rules for implementing these changes, including fee structures, and specifies that the new sections will be codified as part of Title 61, chapter 5, part 1, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_1(1): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_1(2): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_1(3): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_1(4): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_1(5): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_1(6): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_1(7): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_1: 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_2(1): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_2(10): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_2(11): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_2(12): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_2(13): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_2(14): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_2(15): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_2(2): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_2(3): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_2(4): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_2(5): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_2(6): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_2(7): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_2(8): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_2(9): 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201
HB0275_2: 61-5-104, 61-5-105, 61-5-110, 61-5-116, 61-5-121, 61-5-201, 61-5-203, 61-5-204, 61-11-503, 61-14-201