Tribal Endorsement of Utah Driver License Amendments
HB 52 allows Utah driver license and ID card applicants who are enrolled members of a federally recognized Indian tribe to request a "Native American" notation on their license or ID. It specifies that applicants must provide accepted tribal documents (like a tribal ID card, certificate of Indian blood, or Bureau of Indian Affairs affidavit) as proof of enrollment. The notation may not identify a specific tribe or include additional personal details beyond the "Native American" label. This change applies to new applications and renewals starting July 1, 2026, with no new costs.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Jan 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Jan 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 20, 2026
Signed Mar 26, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
Amended 2/4/2026 14:02:186
→
Substitute #1
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to add $192,900 in funding for updating driver license formats and to change the effective date for the new tribal membership notation from July 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027, while keeping the general bill effective date at July 1, 2026.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include a specific budget appropriation for the Department of Public Safety to implement the changes.
FISCAL
Added an appropriation of $192,900 from the Driver License Restricted Account to fund the update of driver license formats to include tribal membership notations.
TIMELINE
Changed the effective date for the specific driver license notation changes to January 1, 2027, while the rest of the bill remains effective July 1, 2026.
DEFINITION
Removed the phrase 'Native American' from the list of acceptable notations, leaving only 'Federally Recognized Tribal Member' as the required text on the license.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 18, 2026 · House Jan 22, 2026
How they voted
27–0
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 29
Feb 18, 2026
D
Democratic6
100% Yea
N
Forward1
100% Yea
R
Republican22
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
48
Key actions
8
Committee
3
Amendments
3
Mar 26, 2026
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
Feb 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
House/ concurs with Senate amendment
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Introduced
Senate/ to House with amendments
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Introduced
Senate/ floor amendment
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]
upper
Jan 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]
upper
Jan 27, 2026
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]
upper
Jan 23, 2026
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
House/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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