New Enhanced ID’s A Step Closer Here in Minnesota

Remember all that hoo-ha last year about our Minnesota driver's licenses not being up to the latest federal standards and how we'd all eventually need to get a passport even to fly here in the US? Well, state lawmakers started the process of bringing us up to code... finally.

The new standards are all part of a federal mandate, and up until last year, when the feds gave us an extension until 2020 to get our act together, Minnesota was one of only a few states that hadn't implemented the updated requirements needed when you renew or apply for a new driver's license.

Well, actually, we're STILL one of only five states that haven't upgraded our ID standards, according to this TwinCities.com story. But at least lawmakers have now started the slow process of moving us into compliance. "Though federal officials won’t start checking for the upgraded IDs at airport gates for a few years, legislative leaders want a new system in place by this fall so Minnesota residents can get their current licenses replaced in their normal, four-year renewal period," the story said.

The story also noted the Minnesota house passed a bill authorizing a study on how to implement the changes needed to bring us into compliance, and the Minnesota senate is expected to do the same thing later this week. Well, great. Nice job, guys. But it's a little overdo, isn't it?

In fact, in their infinite wisdom nearly 10 years ago, Minnesota lawmakers not only said the state wasn't going to comply with the new standards, they passed a law that made it illegal for state agencies to even TALK about it. Really? What was the point of that?!? Did the state, in what I'm guessing was an attempt to safeguard our Minnesotan identities, really think they'd be able to stand up to the federal government? I don't think so. And, sure enough, now we're complying anyway, except now we're one of the very last states to do so. And, their little stunt almost caused all Minnesotans to go through a lot of extra red tape. Which is something we ALL want to do, right?

Either way, I'm glad state lawmakers have finally come to their senses. Because even though I already have a passport (complete with the world's worst passport photo-- check out the video below if you don't believe me), it seemed ridiculous that we'd all have to go through the process of obtaining one simply to board a domestic flight, all because our Minnesota lawmakers stubbornly refused to do what just about every other state has already done. It's about time they joined the crowd.