A cohort of 28 Kentucky state senators joined forces to ask Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to delay the looming enforcement of Real ID requirements.
The April 17 letter written by Senate Transportation Committee Chair Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, asks for federal agencies to postpone requirements for Real IDs, which meet enhanced security standards set by Congress. Starting May 7, residents will need a Real ID or other acceptable form of identification to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities.
Kentucky has seen improvements in its issuing of identification cards and driver’s licenses since shifting the function to a network of Driver Licensing Regional Offices in 2022, but the system is still working out kinks, Higdon said, pointing to limited availability for appointments and long wait times.
Legislation that will reduce strain on the offices by allowing third-party vendors to assist with license renewals won’t take effect until June, he added.
“Despite significant progress, Kentucky is simply not fully prepared for complete implementation,” Higdon wrote.
He noted the enforcement date has been pushed back several times prior and asked for another extension to “ensure a smoother, more accessible rollout.”
Kentucky Vehicle Regulation Commissioner Matt Henderson, right, shows an example of the Kentucky Real ID card to county clerks during a 2018 news conference at the Louisville International Airport.
Lines at regional driver’s licensing offices have grown in recent weeks as people hurry to get their Real IDs ahead of the enforcement date.
Real IDs are not a requirement in Kentucky and can still be issued after enforcement begins.
“Rural residents, seniors and families still have hurdles in front of them, and in a lot of cases, may not be aware of their options. Only about 40% of our residents have a Real ID, but I would also like more time to help Kentuckians understand that they may not need a Real ID. Kentucky has made a good faith effort, but we just aren’t there yet,” Higdon said in an April 23 news release.
Contact reporter Killian Baarlaer at kbaarlaer@gannett.com or @bkillian72 on X.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky lawmakers ask for Real ID requirements to be delayed