HB554 prohibits the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) from issuing driver’s licenses or state IDs to non-U.S. citizens or lawful noncitizen residents unless the credential includes a restriction code marking their status. The OMV must mail these individuals a multilingual notice explaining that noncitizens are prohibited from registering or voting in Louisiana and that doing so is a felony. The OMV must keep records of all noncitizens who receive the notice and share that data monthly with the secretary of state for voter-list maintenance.
The Louisiana State Senate passed HB554 on June 9, 2025 by a vote of 28 to 11. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because persons unlawfully present in the United States ought not to be permitted sanctuary or residency in Louisiana, let alone be considered eligible for a state-issued form of identification or license. Rather than pursue blatantly unconstitutional and anti-American policies that undermine the rule of law and erode the value of citizenship, each of the several states should use its powers reserved under the 10th Amendment to end the illegal-migrant invasion and provide for the public safety.
