Montana § 61-12-501 Authority Of Department To Issue Identification Cards -- Lawful Presence Verification

Montana Statutes

§ 61-12-501 — Authority Of Department To Issue Identification Cards -- Lawful Presence Verification

Montana § 61-12-501

Title 61MOTOR VEHICLES

Ch. 12MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Part 5Identification Cards

This text of Montana § 61-12-501 (Authority Of Department To Issue Identification Cards -- Lawful Presence Verification) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Montana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Mont. Code Ann. § 61-12-501 (2026).

Text

61-12-501 . Authority of department to issue identification cards -- lawful presence verification.

(1)The department may issue an identification card to any person who provides acceptable documentation of Montana residency and whose presence in the United States is authorized under federal law.

(2)On or after January 1, 2026, an identification card issued pursuant to this section to a citizen of the United States must display an image of an eagle to signify the licensee's status as a United States citizen.

(3)When an applicant who is not a citizen of the United States applies for an identification card, the department shall verify that the applicant is lawfully present in the United States by using the federal systematic alien verification for entitlements program or any other verificat

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61-12-501 . Authority of department to issue identification cards -- lawful presence verification. (1) The department may issue an identification card to any person who provides acceptable documentation of Montana residency and whose presence in the United States is authorized under federal law.
(2) On or after January 1, 2026, an identification card issued pursuant to this section to a citizen of the United States must display an image of an eagle to signify the licensee's status as a United States citizen.
(3) When an applicant who is not a citizen of the United States applies for an identification card, the department shall verify that the applicant is lawfully present in the United States by using the federal systematic alien verification for entitlements program or any other verification program approved by the federal government.
(4) A person may only have one nonvoided driver's license or identification card issued by the department at any time.
(5) As used in this section, "identification card" and "driver's license" include a digital credential.

Legislative History

En. Sec. 1, Ch. 53, L. 1971; R.C.M. 1947, 31-170; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 495, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 503, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 346, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 207, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 686, L. 2023; amd. Sec. 31, Ch. 395, L. 2025; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 551, L. 2025.