House Bill No. 1976 proposes the establishment of a Digital Identification Program under a new Chapter 526 in the Transportation Code. The bill defines "digital identification" to include various forms of digital licenses such as digital driver's licenses, personal identification certificates, handgun licenses, and hunting or fishing licenses. The Department of Public Safety, in consultation with the Parks and Wildlife Department, is tasked with creating this program, which will involve assessing and upgrading existing infrastructure, providing a digital identification solution that can be presented on wireless devices, and ensuring that law enforcement can accept digital identification. Importantly, the bill stipulates that no fees will be charged for the issuance of digital identification.

The bill also mandates that if an applicant is eligible for a physical form of identification, they must be issued a physical version and, upon request, a digital version as well. However, it explicitly states that digital identification cannot be used for voting purposes. The Department of Public Safety is required to implement the program by February 1, 2027, and may delay implementation if federal authorization is needed. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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