Issue Brief 15-01
January 14, 2015
Summary 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a final rule on the enforcement plan for the REAL ID Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-13) on December 29, 2014. The act mandated the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that states meet specific standards when issuing driver’s licenses and identification (ID) cards used for federal purposes. The final rule maintains the phased enforcement plan announced in December 2013, but modifies the date by which all residents of compliant and extension states must hold a license that satisfies REAL ID standards to October 1, 2020. All other jurisdictions will be subject to enforcement beginning January 19, 2015.