SR 176

2026 Regular Session  ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 176
BY SENATOR MIZELL
  A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Louisiana office of alcohol and tobacco control (ATC) and the
        Board of Regents to jointly study the feasibility, security implications, and
        administrative requirements of enabling student identification cards issued by
        Louisiana postsecondary institutions to function as a form of digital identification
        verification, and to report findings to the legislature.
        WHEREAS, Louisiana's public and private postsecondary institutions issue student
identification cards that are widely used for campus access, meal plans, library services, and
other institutional functions; and
        WHEREAS, rapid advancements in digital identity technology have expanded the
potential uses of secure, institution-issued identification credentials; and
        WHEREAS, the office of alcohol and tobacco control is responsible for regulating
and enforcing state laws related to the sale of alcohol and tobacco products, including the
verification of legally required identification; and
        WHEREAS, the Board of Regents oversees the state's public higher education
systems and maintains statewide policies related to student records, data security, and
institutional operations; and
        WHEREAS, several states and private-sector entities have begun exploring or
implementing digital identification systems capable of verifying age or identity through
secure, encrypted platforms; and
        WHEREAS, Louisiana may benefit from evaluating whether student identification
cards, physical or digital, could be integrated into a secure digital verification framework
that meets ATC standards for age and identity verification; and
        WHEREAS, such a study would allow policymakers to assess potential benefits,
including convenience for students, modernization of verification processes, and reduction
of fraudulent identification, while also evaluating risks related to privacy, cybersecurity, and
institutional capacity.
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SR NO. 176  ENROLLED
        THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby urge and request the office of alcohol and tobacco control and the Board of
Regents to conduct a joint study on the feasibility of allowing student identification cards
issued by Louisiana postsecondary institutions to be used for digital identification
verification, including but not limited to age verification for alcohol and tobacco purchases.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study shall include, at minimum:
        (1) An evaluation of technological requirements and security standards necessary for
digital verification.
        (2) An assessment of privacy and data-protection implications for students and
        institutions, as well as savings for both.
        (3) A review of potential costs, funding needs, and implementation timelines.
        (4) Consultation with Louisiana higher education systems, campus security officials,
relevant technology experts, and best practices from other states.
        (5) Identification of any statutory or regulatory changes required to authorize such
use.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of alcohol and tobacco control and the
Board of Regents shall submit a written report of findings and recommendations to the
Senate Committee on Judiciary B and the Senate Committee on Education no later than
February 1, 2027.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
commissioner of the office of alcohol and tobacco control and the commissioner of higher
education.
  PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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