HB 730
Department of Legislative Services
Maryland General Assembly
2021 Session
FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
Third Reader
House Bill 730 (The Speaker)(By Request - Administration)
Environment and Transportation Judicial Proceedings
Driver's Licenses, Learner's Instructional Permits, and Identification Cards -
Applications and Renewals
This Administration bill alters several provisions that restrict when and how a driver’s
license may be renewed (or a learner’s permit may be obtained). Specifically, the bill
(1) permits the extension of an identification (ID) card expiration date for up to 90 days;
(2) repeals a requirement that the copy of a school attendance record required for applicants
for a learner’s instructional permit be a certified copy; (3) permits the Motor Vehicle
Administration (MVA) to renew a driver’s license within 12 months (rather than 6 months)
prior to expiration; (4) permits MVA to renew a driver’s license without the individual
appearing in person if the individual’s photograph was taken fewer than 16 years prior to
renewal; and (5) extends the period of time (from one to two years) during which MVA
may accept a certification of acceptable visual acuity from a licensed physician or
optometrist for license renewal purposes. The bill takes effect July 1, 2021.
Fiscal Summary
State Effect: Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) revenues may be minimally affected by
the bill, as discussed below. MVA realizes efficiencies in its operations and can implement
the bill’s changes with existing resources.
Local Effect: None.
Small Business Effect: The Administration has determined that this bill has minimal or
no impact on small business (attached). The Department of Legislative Services concurs
with this assessment.
 Analysis
Bill Summary/Current Law:
Identification Cards
Under current law, an ID card issued to an applicant is generally valid for up to eight years.
The bill authorizes MVA to extend the duration of an ID card for up to 90 days if the
individual does not possess all of the documents required for renewal.
Learner’s Instructional Permits
Under current law, each applicant for a learner’s instructional permit who is younger than
age 16 must present MVA with a certified copy of the applicant’s school attendance record.
The bill repeals the requirement that the school attendance record be certified, and instead
requires only a copy of the record.
Expiration and Renewal of Driver’s Licenses
Under current law, a Maryland noncommercial driver’s license issued to an applicant
age 21 or older is valid for a maximum of eight years. A license is renewable on the
presentation of an application, the required renewal fee, and satisfactory completion of the
required vision test (1) within 6 months before its expiration or (2) when a driver qualifies
for a corrected license, as specified. The bill modifies this provision so that a license is
renewable within 12 months prior to its expiration.
License Photographs
Except in limited circumstances (e.g., when a licensee is absent from the State with cause),
under current law, MVA is prohibited from renewing an individual’s license for more than
one consecutive term without requiring the individual to appear in person at an MVA
office. The bill alters this requirement by authorizing MVA to renew an individual’s license
without requiring an in-person visit if the photograph for the individual was taken less than
16 years before the date of renewal.
Vision Tests
Generally, MVA must require every individual applying for a renewal of a driver’s license
to pass a vision test (as prescribed by MVA) under current law. However, MVA must also
accept a certification of acceptable visual acuity from a licensed physician in lieu of a test
at an MVA site. The examination for which certification is made must take place within
12 months of the date of application for renewal. The bill modifies this provision by
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specifying that the exam instead must take place within two years of the date of application
for renewal.
Background: MVA advises that it is seeking to create more flexibility for customers,
particularly by reducing the number of necessary visits to an MVA branch office. In
addition, MVA notes that the changes made by the bill are intended to improve continuity
of service in times of emergency and to reduce administrative burdens on customers.
REAL ID Act
On May 11, 2005, President George W. Bush signed into law the REAL ID Act, which
requires federal agencies to accept only personal ID cards that meet certain standards. The
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued final regulations in January 2008.
Pursuant to the regulations, MVA must verify the identity and lawful status of
each applicant for a driver’s license or ID card. Once fully enforced, driver’s licenses and
ID cards issued by states that are not in compliance with REAL ID standards will not be
recognized for federal purposes, including accessing a federal facility and boarding a
federally regulated commercial aircraft. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the national
emergency declaration, DHS has extended the REAL ID enforcement deadline by one year
(to October 1, 2021).
Identification Cards
MVA advises that customers who need to supply REAL ID documentation in order to
renew a product can often encounter delays in sourcing the documentation, particularly
when documents such as birth certificates are needed from out of state. These delays can
prevent customers from being able to renew on time, leaving them without a valid form of
identification. MVA advises that the bill’s changes to this provision (allowing a 90-day
extension) mirrors the authority it has to issue a 90-day extension for driver’s licenses.
Learner’s Instructional Permits
According to MVA, the requirement that an applicant younger than age 16 submit a
certified copy of school attendance has resulted in a cumbersome, paper-based process.
Eliminating the requirement of a certified copy of attendance effectively removes the need
for MVA to receive paper copies, thereby alleviating the burden on applicants.
Expiration and Renewal of Driver’s Licenses
In order for a Marylander to be REAL ID-compliant, the individual must both hold a
driver’s license with the federally designated REAL ID star symbol and have the required
documents on file with MVA. As a driver’s license is not eligible for renewal under current
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law until six months before its expiration, a Marylander who needs a REAL ID-compliant
product and is not yet inside the six-month renewal window must purchase a compliant
product at a cost of $20. Because corrected licenses have the same expiration as the original
license, the customer may need to return again within a short timeframe. MVA advises that
extending the renewal window may result in approximately 60,000 Marylanders becoming
eligible to become REAL ID-compliant before the October 1 federal deadline.
License Photographs
MVA advises the bill aligns an individual’s eligibility for alternative renewal (e.g., online
or by mail) with the age of the photograph, rather than simply alternating renewal cycles –
thereby increasing access to alternative renewal methods. Maryland driver’s licenses are
valid for up to eight years at a time, and many customers visit an MVA branch during a
driver’s license cycle to obtain a corrected or duplicate license, which may require a
photograph to be taken. Under current requirements, a customer due for an in-person
renewal would be prohibited from renewing via an alternative method even if the customer
had appeared in person and had a photograph taken as recently as seven months before the
expiration. Rather than require the customer to return to the branch office if the individual
had a photograph taken more recently, the customer could renew through an alternative
method under the bill. MVA advises this change makes Maryland law consistent with
federal regulations, which permit a photograph to be valid for up to 16 years.
Vision Tests
According to MVA, expanding the validity period of vision test results will reduce the
number of in-branch vision tests and increase availability of renewal without a branch visit.
Currently, vision care providers can sign up with MVA to electronically share results from
tests administered by an eye doctor, allowing customers whose vision test results are shared
to skip in-branch vision testing during the renewal process.
Moreover, MVA notes that some customers may only need to have their vision tested every
two years, based on guidance from the American Optometric Association. However, under
current law, some customers might be precluded from using their most recent test results,
as MVA requires results to be from within the past year. MVA further notes that the vision
test requirement is often the only barrier preventing customers age 40 and older from
renewing online or by mail.
State Revenues: Under the bill, MVA expects some individuals to renew their licenses
sooner than under current law, as the bill authorizes MVA to renew licenses within
12 months (rather than 6 months) prior to expiration. Thus, there may be a one-time shift
in the receipt of license fee revenues. On the other hand, because the bill permits the
extension of an ID card expiration date (by 90 days), some revenues may also be delayed
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under the bill. Despite these factors, any shift in the receipt of TTF revenues resulting from
the bill is expected to be minimal.
Additional Information
Prior Introductions: None.
Designated Cross File: SB 569 (The President)(By Request - Administration) - Judicial
Proceedings.
Information Source(s): Maryland Department of Transportation; Department of
Legislative Services
Fiscal Note History: First Reader - February 10, 2021
rh/ljm Third Reader - March 9, 2021
Analysis by: Eric F. Pierce Direct Inquiries to:
(410) 946-5510
(301) 970-5510
HB 730/ Page 5
 ANALYSIS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT ON SMALL BUSINESSES
TITLE OF BILL: Driver’s Licenses, Learner’s Instructional Permits, and Identification
Cards - Applications and Renewals
BILL NUMBER: HB 730
PREPARED BY: MDOT MVA
(Dept./Agency)
PART A. ECONOMIC IMPACT RATING
This agency estimates that the proposed bill:
__X__ WILL HAVE MINIMAL OR NO ECONOMIC IMPACT ON MARYLAND SMALL
BUSINESS
OR
______ WILL HAVE MEANINGFUL ECONOMIC IMPACT ON MARYLAND SMALL
BUSINESSES
PART B. ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS
See attached fiscal note.
HB 730/ Page 6


Statutes affected:
Text - First - Driver's Licenses, Learner's Instructional Permits, and Identification Cards - Applications and Renewals: 12-301 Transportation, 16-105 Transportation, 16-115 Transportation
Text - Third - Driver's Licenses, Learner's Instructional Permits, and Identification Cards - Applications and Renewals: 12-301 Transportation, 16-105 Transportation, 16-115 Transportation