27-02-2025
New Arkansas law will add blood types to driver's licenses
FAYETTEVIILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Arkansas House Bill 1315, an act to authorize a blood type designation to be placed on a driver license or identification card, has officially been signed into law.
According to the legislative text, 'a person, or the parent or guardian of a person, may apply to the Office of Driver Services to obtain a blood type designation on a driver's license or identification card issued under this subchapter by providing a signed form stating the blood type of the person.'
Arkansas Sen. Tyler Dees (R-Siloam Springs) and Rep. Randy Torres (R-Siloam Springs) sponsored the bill, which received unanimous, bipartisan support in both the house and senate.
Sen. Dees says a conversation with a veteran inspired he and his fellow Siloam Springs lawmaker to work on the bill.
'Rep. Torres and I share a constituent, a veteran constituent, that brought this this issue up to us. They said, 'you know, when I served in the Army on our dog tags, we always had our blood type listed on our dog tags to help in case of an emergency or for clarity on our own blood type,' Dees said.
'He said, 'you know, most people don't know their own blood type, and so how great would it be if we could have an option to put our own blood type onto our driver's license?' And so, a simple conversation like that led to this this new law that allows constituents the option to put their blood type on the driver's license,' Dees said.
Dees also shared that the bill would help rural hospitals in emergency situations.
'It allows for rural hospitals especially to have speed of care. A lot of times they have to go through testing and cost increase just to find out someone's blood type in emergencies. They typically issue I believe O-type blood. So, this this helps with speed. It also helps with the total blood supply that's out there,' Dees said.
Dees says he hopes the bill will work to save lives.
'It's just a great solution that really won't add cost or harm. If it saves one life, it's worth it,' Dees said.
The law will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
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