REAL ID Delay? Kentucky lawmakers send request to Homeland Security Secretary
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — A majority of Kentuckians still don't have a REAL ID. As previously reported, many are facing long wait times at drivers licensing offices, and now several lawmakers are telling the federal government Kentucky is just not ready.
'Somebody needed to speak up,' Sen. Jimmy Higdon (R-Lebanon) told FOX 56 News on Thursday.
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REAL ID Delay? Kentucky lawmakers send request to Homeland Security Secretary
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May 7th is a date looming large for Higdon, who chairs the Senate transportation committee, when the nation's 2005 REAL ID law is set to take effect.
'Kentucky is simply not ready. We have less than 40% of our licensed drivers that are REAL ID compliant,' Higdon said.
While a passport or permanent resident card is another form of a REAL ID, the most common is a driver's license, indicated in Kentucky by a black star in the upper right corner. If the government holds to the May 7th deadline, a REAL ID will be required to access military bases or federal buildings, and it'll be needed for any air travel.
'If it goes into effect, we're going to see an equal and more severe problem at our airports. When people show up to fly and they don't have a real ID,' Higdon said.
Beshear highlights efforts to return inmates to workforce
REAL ID Delay? Kentucky lawmakers send request to Homeland Security Secretary
Adair County school leaders cancel classes to attend funeral of middle school student
In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, cosigned by 27 other GOP state senators, Higdon asks for a delay and explains how the state has faced limited appointment availability and long wait times at regional drivers licensing offices
'A year would do; two years would be perfect,' he said.
Higdon believes that, if implemented on May 7, the requirement could put additional strain on those offices that are seeing more in-person visits for more than just REAL ID.
'I think it's over 100,000. I'm going to get you the number. More appointments being scheduled because of the vision screening than we used to. That means there's been a huge shift from online to in-person, right as these other things are happening,' Gov. Andy Beshear told FOX 56 during Thursday's Team Kentucky briefing.
Beshear said he agrees that a delay is needed, and both he and Higdon are encouraged that some relief is coming down the pipes when third parties like AAA can start issuing renewals in June when Senate Bill 43 takes effect. Higdon is also encouraging those that don't plan to fly soon or visit a military base to not worry about getting one.
'Your standard Kentucky driver's license is still a good tool. It helps with identification. It's all you need to go vote,' he said.
So far, Noem has not responded to the letter.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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