HB 296: Motor vehicles; presentation of a driver's license in a certain electronic format; provisions

Georgia law did not clearly say whether a driver's license shown on a phone counted as valid identification in different settings. This bill draws that line. For voting at the polls, buying a hunting or fishing license, and proving residency for a lifetime sportsman's license, the bill requires a physical driver's license; an electronic version on a phone will not satisfy those requirements. For everyday possession of a license while driving, the bill goes the other way: showing an electronic license on a phone satisfies the requirement to carry a license, as long as law enforcement has equipment to verify it. Officers cannot force a driver to hand over their phone, and by July 1, 2027 all law enforcement agencies must acquire equipment able to check electronic licenses. Separately, the bill lets owners of certain heavily modified rental vehicles and for-hire charter buses pay their title ad valorem tax (the one-time tax paid when titling a vehicle) in two installments over 12 months instead of all at once.

• Requires voters to present a physical Georgia driver's license (not a phone version) as identification at polling places.
• Requires people buying a hunting, fishing, or trapping license, or applying for a lifetime sportsman's license, to show a physical driver's license.
• Allows drivers to show an electronic driver's license on a phone to satisfy the requirement to carry a license while driving, if police have the right verification equipment.
• Bars police from forcing a driver to hand over their phone to check an electronic license and protects against implied consent to a device search.
• Requires all Georgia law enforcement agencies to obtain equipment capable of verifying electronic driver's licenses by July 1, 2027.
• Creates a new option letting owners of specially modified rental vehicles and for-hire charter buses or motor coaches pay their title ad valorem tax in two installments over 12 months.

Georgia voters, hunters and anglers, people applying for lifetime sportsman's licenses, everyday drivers who use digital driver's licenses, law enforcement agencies that must buy new verification equipment, and businesses that own for-hire charter buses or heavily modified rental vehicles subject to the title ad valorem tax.

Georgians who rely on a phone-based digital license would still need a physical card to vote or buy a hunting or fishing license, but could use the digital version during a routine traffic stop without surrendering their phone. Vehicle rental and charter bus businesses would get more time to pay a tax bill.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 21-2-417 so poll workers must be shown a physical, not electronic, Georgia driver's license as identification.
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 27-2-2 to require a physical driver's license when purchasing a hunting, fishing, or trapping license from an agent.
• Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 27-2-3.1 to require a physical driver's license as proof of residency for a lifetime sportsman's license.
• Section 4 amends O.C.G.A. § 40-5-29 so an electronic driver's license satisfies the requirement to carry a license while driving if police have verification equipment, and bars officers from compelling surrender of a phone; officers must obtain verification equipment by July 1, 2027.
• Section 5 amends O.C.G.A. § 48-5C-1 to let owners of for-hire charter buses, motor coaches, or specially modified rental vehicles pay 50 percent of their title ad valorem tax at titling and the remaining 50 percent within 12 months.

1. 2025-05-14Effective Date 2025-07-01
2. 2025-05-14Act 256
3. 2025-05-14House Date Signed by Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2025-04-10House Sent to Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2025-04-04House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (Cámara de Representantes)
6. 2025-04-04Senate Passed/Adopted As Amended (Senado)
7. 2025-04-04Senate Third Read (Senado)
8. 2025-04-04Senate Taken from Table (Senado)

• Houston Gaines (R, HD-120)Patrocinador principal
• John Corbett (R, HD-174)
• Trey Kelley (R, HD-016)
• Shaw Blackmon (R, HD-146)
• Marcus Wiedower (R, HD-121)
• Scott Hilton (R, HD-048)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes3 de marzo de 2025

   154 a favor, 17 en contra (6 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Passage: House Vote #124

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado4 de abril de 2025

   51 a favor, 2 en contra (2 sin votar, 1 ausentes)

   Adoption Of Amendment #1 By The Senator From The 42nd: Senate Vote #481

3. RechazadaVotación: Senado4 de abril de 2025

   13 a favor, 39 en contra (3 sin votar, 1 ausentes)

   Adoption Of Amendment #2 By The Senator From The 46th: Senate Vote #482

4. AprobadaVotación: Senado4 de abril de 2025

   51 a favor, 3 en contra (1 sin votar, 1 ausentes)

   Passage As Amended: Senate Vote #483

5. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes4 de abril de 2025

   163 a favor, 3 en contra (2 sin votar, 12 ausentes)

   Agree To Senate Amendment: House Vote #448

• voter ID
• driver's licenses
• hunting and fishing licenses
• vehicle taxes
• law enforcement technology