HB 52

Enrolled Copy  H.B. 52
1Tribal Endorsement of Utah Driver License Amendments
  2026 GENERAL SESSION
  STATE OF UTAH
  Chief Sponsor: A. Cory Maloy
  Senate Sponsor: Brady Brammer
2
3  LONG TITLE
4  General Description:
5      This bill allows an applicant for a driver license to request a notation on the driver license
6  or identification card indicating that the individual is an enrolled member of a federally
7  recognized Indian tribe.
8  Highlighted Provisions:
9      This bill:
10      ▸ defines terms;
11      ▸ allows an applicant to request a notation of "Federally Recognized Tribal Member" on the
12  driver license or identification card indicating that the individual is an enrolled member
13  of a federally recognized Indian tribe;
14      ▸ instructs the Driver License Division regarding satisfactory proof that an applicant is an
15  enrolled member of a federally recognized Indian tribe; and
16      ▸ prohibits the notation from identifying a specific Indian tribe.
17  Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18      This bill appropriates $192,900 in operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 2026, all of
19  which is from the various sources as detailed in this bill.
20  Other Special Clauses:
21      This bill provides a special effective date.
22  Utah Code Sections Affected:
23  ENACTS:
24      53-3-237 (Effective 01/01/27), Utah Code Annotated 1953
25
26  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27Section 1. Section 53-3-237 is enacted to read:
 H.B. 52  Enrolled Copy
2853-3-237 (Effective 01/01/27). Driver license notation of tribal membership.
29   (1) As used in this section:
30(a) "Bureau of Indian Affairs affidavit of birth" or "tribal affidavit of birth" means an
31affidavit of birth issued by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs that includes:
32(i) the individual's name;
33(ii) the individual's date of birth; and
34(iii) other identifying information.
35(b) "Enhanced tribal card" means a tribal identification card that:
36(i) is issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe;
37(ii) meets the requirements established by the United States Department of Homeland
38Security for use as an acceptable document to denote identity and citizenship; and
39(iii) includes enhanced security features.
40(c) "Federally recognized Indian tribe" means an Indian tribe recognized and included
41on the list required by 25 U.S.C. Sec. 5131.
42(d) "Tribal certificate of Indian blood" means a certificate issued by the United States
43Bureau of Indian Affairs that:
44(i) certifies the degree of Indian blood of an individual; and
45(ii) verifies the individual's enrollment or eligibility for enrollment in a federally
46recognized Indian tribe.
47(e) "Tribal identification card" means an identification card issued by a federally
48recognized Indian tribe that includes:
49(i) the individual's name;
50(ii) the individual's date of birth;
51(iii) a photograph of the individual; and
52(iv) the name of the issuing tribe.
53   (2) An applicant may, as part of the application process described in Section 53-3-205 or
5453-3-804, request a notation on the applicant's individual license certificate or
55identification card indicating that the individual is an enrolled member of a federally
56recognized Indian tribe.
57   (3) The division shall accept the following as satisfactory proof that the applicant is an
58enrolled member of a federally recognized Indian tribe:
59(a) an enhanced tribal card;
60(b) a tribal identification card;
61(c) a tribal certificate of Indian blood; or
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 Enrolled Copy  H.B. 52
62      (d) a tribal or Bureau of Indian Affairs affidavit of birth.
63  (4)(a) If the applicant provides satisfactory proof as described in Subsection (3), the
64      division shall include on the individual's license certificate or identification card a
65      notation of "Federally Recognized Tribal Member."
66      (b) The notation may not identify a specific Indian tribe or other specific personal
67information that is submitted on the documents that provide satisfactory proof that
68the person is an enrolled member of a federally recognized Indian tribe.
69Section 2. FY 2026 Appropriations.
70The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
71  2025, and ending June 30, 2026. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
72  fiscal year 2026.
73Subsection 2(a). Operating and Capital Budgets
74Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the
75  Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts indicated for
76  the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
77  ITEM 1      To Department of Public Safety - Driver License
78From Department of Public Safety Restricted Account,
79One-time  192,900
80Schedule of Programs:
81Driver License Administration  192,900
82The Legislature intends that Driver License
83Division spend the appropriation under Item 1 to update
84the driver license format to accommodate the notation
85described in Section 53-3-237.
86Section 3. Effective Date.
87  (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), this bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
88  (2) The actions affecting Section 53-3-237 (Effective 01/01/27) take effect on January 1,
89      2027.
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