ST. PAUL -- A key Minnesota driver's license official says the state may not be able to meet federal guidelines by Oct. 1, meaning some people could be forced to get new licenses before their old ones expire.
Dawn Olson of the state Motor and Vehicle Services department told a House committee Monday that setting up new rules may not be possible to complete by fall.
The committee voted 7-4 to advance to bill to another panel.
The House measure would replace current licenses with ones complying with the Real ID federal requirements. Without the changes, which federal officials say would provide a more secure license, Minnesotans could not use state-issued licenses to board airliners and enter federal facilities.
Senators are considering keeping existing licenses and adding Real ID ones, while the House legislation would only allow Real ID cards.
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Real ID cards are required by Oct. 1, 2020. Since Minnesota licenses are good for four years, any issued before new licenses are ready would have to be replaced early.
