AlaskaAlaska allows electronic IDs and limits sharing of driver records
Alaska law allows people with physical credentials to apply for electronic versions and permits limited, requested sharing of driver records.
What it does
People with a physical Alaska ID, driver's license, or permit may apply for an electronic version, but they must keep the physical document too.
Showing an electronic ID or license does not let an officer search the rest of a phone; the officer must return it after checking the credential.
At a person's request, the department may share their records with approved verification groups or registered traveler programs, with limits on how recipients may use them.
Argument forDrivers may be able to show a license on a phone, which could make it easier to carry while they drive.
Argument againstA phone could be damaged during an ID check, and an officer may avoid liability unless the damage results from intentional misconduct.
More detail
The department may issue electronic ID cards, driver's licenses, and permits. The option covers people who hold a physical Alaska ID card, driver's license, or permit. Applicants must already have the matching physical card, license, or permit and must keep it. The department must adopt rules for electronic credentials and may require drivers to carry a physical license in certain situations. The act takes effect immediately.
Officers must return a phone after checking an electronic credential and may not search its other contents based only on seeing the credential. These rules apply when a peace officer or authorized Department of Public Safety representative is shown an electronic ID, driver's license, or permit on a mobile device. For an electronic driver's license or permit, the officer must verify the person's identity and license or permit status before returning the phone. An officer may be liable for device damage caused by intentional misconduct. The rules apply when an officer is shown an electronic credential on a mobile device.
The department may share a person's records with certain organizations or programs at the person's or designee's request. The information is about the person and is held by the Department of Administration. Approved nonprofits and government or tribal groups may use the information only to verify driver's license data; they may not disclose, keep, sell, or use it for another purpose, and must protect it. Registered traveler program participants may use information for lawful purposes, including outside a program when verifying license or ID data and the person voluntarily provided the credential.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 16(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 7/7/26Latest
- Jul 16(S) LAW W/O GOVERNOR SIGNATURE 6/30 CHAPTER 55 SLA 26Major
- Jun 18(S) 2:05 P.M. 6/18/26 Transmitted to GovernorTo Governor
- Jun 18(S) MANIFEST ERROR(S)
- May 20(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- Vote recorded (S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y20 N- #2828. Result: pass.Upper
- May 20(S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y20 N-
- May 20(S) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP
- May 19(H) VERSION: CSSB 237(JUD) AM H(REENGROSSED)
- Vote recorded (H) PASSED Y40 #2938. Result: pass.Lower
- May 19(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) AS AMENDEDMajor
- May 19(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- May 19(H) PASSED Y40Major
- May 19(H) AUTOMATICALLY IN THIRD READING CSSB 237(JUD) AM H(REENGROSSED)Minor
- May 19(H) AM NO 6 BEFORE HOUSE AND WITHDRAWN UC
- May 19(H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION
- May 19(H) RESCINDED ACTION (ADOPTING)AM 6 UC
- May 19(H) RETURNED SECOND TO RESCIND ACTION ON AM 6 UC
- May 19(H) RESCINDED ACTION (PASSAGE) UC
- May 19(H) BEFORE HOUSE
- May 19(S) RETURNED TO THE HOUSE PER REQUEST
- May 18(S) CONCUR MESSAGE READ
- May 17(H) VERSION: CSSB 237(JUD) AM H
- Vote recorded (H) PASSED Y40 #2721. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded (H) AM NO 4 ADOPTED Y38 N2 # 2710. Result: pass.Lower
- May 17(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) AS AMENDEDMajor
- May 17(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- May 17(H) PASSED Y40Major
- May 17(H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 237(JUD) AM HMinor
- May 17(H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UCMinor
- May 17(H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION
- May 17(H) AM NO 6 ADOPTED UCMajor
- May 17(H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION
- May 17(H) AM NO 5 ADOPTED UCMajor
- May 17(H) TITLE CHANGE: HCR 21
- May 17(H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION
- May 17(H) AM NO 4 ADOPTED Y38 N2Major
- May 17(H) AM NO 3 WITHDRAWN
- May 17(H) BEFORE HOUSE IN SECOND READING
- May 16(H) HELD IN SECOND READING TO 5/17 CALENDAR
- May 15(H) HELD IN SECOND READING TO 5/16 CALENDAR
- May 15(H) AM NO 3 OFFERED AND PENDING
- May 15(H) AM NO 2 NOT OFFERED
- May 15(H) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UCMajor
- May 15(H) READ THE SECOND TIMEMinor
- May 14(H) NOT TAKEN UP 5/14 - ON 5/15 CALENDAR
- May 14(H) MOVED TO BOTTOM OF CALENDAR
- May 13(H) NOT TAKEN UP 5/13 - ON 5/14 CALENDAR
- May 12(H) HELD TO 5/13 CALENDAR
- May 12(H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/12/2026
- May 6(H) FN1: ZERO(ADM)
- May 6(H) NR: MCCABE, ST. CLAIR, HOLLAND
- May 6(H) DP: VANCE, HIMSCHOOT, STORY, CARRICK
- May 6(H) STA RPT 4DP 3NR
- May 5(H) Minutes (HSTA)
- May 5(H) Moved CSSB 237(JUD) Out of Committee
- May 5(H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120
- Apr 28(H) Minutes (HSTA)
- Apr 28(H) Heard & Held
- Apr 28(H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120
- Apr 14(H) Minutes (HSTA)
- Apr 14(H) Scheduled but Not Heard
- Apr 14(H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120
- Apr 1(H) STA
- Apr 1(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSMinor
- Mar 31(S) VERSION: CSSB 237(JUD)
- Vote recorded (S) PASSED Y20 N- #2108. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 31(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)Passed House
- Mar 31(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- Mar 31(S) PASSED Y20 N-Passed Senate
- Mar 31(S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 237(JUD)Minor
- Mar 30(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 3/31 CALMinor
- Mar 30(S) JUD CS ADOPTED UC
- Mar 30(S) READ THE SECOND TIMEMinor
- Mar 30(S) RULES TO CALENDAR 3/30/2026
- Mar 23(S) FN1: ZERO(ADM)
- Mar 23(S) NR: STEVENS, TILTON
- Mar 23(S) DP: CLAMAN, TOBIN, KIEHL
- Mar 23(S) JUD RPT CS 3DP 2NR SAME TITLE
- Mar 20(S) Moved CSSB 237(JUD) Out of Committee
- Mar 20(S) JUDICIARY at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
- Mar 11(S) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --
- Mar 11(S) JUDICIARY at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
- Mar 9(S) -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --
- Mar 9(S) JUDICIARY at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
- Mar 4(S) FN1: ZERO(ADM)
- Mar 4(S) NR: WIELECHOWSKI, TILTON, BJORKMAN
- Mar 4(S) DP: KAWASAKI, GRAY-JACKSON
- Mar 4(S) STA RPT 2DP 3NR
- Mar 3(S) Minutes (SSTA)
- Mar 3(S) Moved SB 237 Out of Committee
- Mar 3(S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Feb 24(S) Minutes (SSTA)
- Feb 24(S) Heard & Held -- Testimony <Invitation Only> --
- Feb 24(S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Feb 9(S) STA, JUD
- Feb 9(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSIntroduced
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