LANSING, Mich., March 12, 2025 — State Reps. Joe Tate (D-Detroit), Tyrone Carter (D-Detroit) and Minority Floor Leader John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming) recently introduced a legislative package — House Bills 4194-96 — that would allow all residents, regardless of their immigration or documentation status, to obtain official personal identification cards and driver’s licenses. This legislation seeks to reinstate previous Michigan law and improve public and road safety for all Michiganders.
“Driving is a privilege and it is important that all people can access that privilege as each of us travels across our state.” Tate said. “Having the ability to be licensed to drive means people can get their kids back and forth from school safely and get to and from work so they can make ends meet — without the added risk and financial burden that comes with driving without a license.”
The package of bills would apply to all Michiganders who reside in a settled or permanent home, regardless of immigration or citizenship status. If passed, Michigan would join 19 other states that have enacted similar legislation, which has been shown to enhance road safety, reduce traffic fatalities, increase the number of insured drivers and build trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement.
“These bills are about making our communities safer and stronger. When everyone has access to a driver’s license or ID, it means more insured and trained drivers on the road, fewer traffic fatalities and smoother interactions with law enforcement,” Carter said. “This is a practical step that benefits all Michiganders by ensuring our roads are safer and our communities are more connected. This is about doing what’s right for our neighbors and for Michigan’s future.”
The legislation would benefit a broad range of residents, including those who may have lost important documents, individuals on visas, people who are residing without documentation and their families and children of U.S. service members born on international bases. By providing access to ID cards and driver’s licenses, the bills aim to reduce challenges faced by law enforcement during routine traffic stops, stabilize the workforce and improve roadway safety by increasing participation in driving instruction.
“These bills will increase road safety and peace of mind to every driver on the road while easing the burden of enforcement for police officers while making their jobs easier,” Fitzgerald said. “Every Michigander deserves to have a pathway to obtain a driver’s license so they can build a future for themselves and their families and get to where they need to go safely.”
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