This bill amends existing New Mexico law to require the Motor Vehicle Division of the Taxation and Revenue Department to include a Native American designation on driver's licenses and identification cards for applicants who request it and provide sufficient documentation. Specifically, the bill introduces new provisions that allow applicants to request a distinguishing mark on their driver's license or identification card that designates them as Native American, as long as it does not specify a particular Indian nation, tribe, or pueblo. To obtain this designation, applicants must submit one of several forms of documentation, including an enhanced tribal card, a tribal identification card, a tribal certificate of Indian blood, or a tribal or Bureau of Indian Affairs affidavit of birth.

Additionally, the bill outlines the necessary changes to the application process for both driver's licenses and identification cards to accommodate these new designations. It ensures that the documentation required for the Native American designation is clearly defined and that the process is accessible to eligible applicants. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on October 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 66-5-10, 66-5-401