State: identification cards; program to provide state identification cards to parolees; provide for. Amends sec. 1 of 1972 PA 222 (MCL 28.291). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5477'26, HB 5474'26
HB 5475 amends Michigan’s state personal identification card law to update the application and issuance process, with a particular focus on prisoners who are nearing release. The bill would require the Secretary of State, beginning January 1, 2026, to issue a state ID card to an eligible prisoner when application documents, a photograph, and release information are provided by the Department of Corrections, and to arrange delivery of the card to the corrections department before release when possible. It also clarifies that prisoners may use corrections-issued identification as proof of identity and authorizes electronic access to prisoner information for verification purposes.
The bill also revises several general ID-card rules. It continues to require proof of identity, citizenship or legal presence, and certain application information, while limiting Social Security number collection and disclosure to specified legal purposes. It preserves the rule that a person generally cannot receive a state ID if they already hold an unrestricted Michigan driver’s license, and it confirms that the act does not require Michigan to comply with federal REAL ID standards. The bill also maintains security and fraud-prevention requirements for ID production and adds provisions related to a “communication impediment” designation for people whose health conditions may affect interactions with police.
HB 5475 would amend MCL 28.291, the statute governing Michigan official state personal identification cards, by adding a new pre-release issuance process for eligible prisoners and by refining application, verification, privacy, and security rules. It would affect the Secretary of State, the Department of Corrections, and applicants for state ID cards, especially incarcerated individuals approaching parole or discharge, noncitizens who must prove legal presence, and individuals seeking a communication impediment designation. The bill is tie-barred to related legislation, meaning it would not take effect unless companion bills are enacted.
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded vote history, so there is no direct evidence of floor or committee sentiment. Based on the bill’s structure, it appears to be a policy package aimed at improving reentry access to identification while also tightening administrative procedures and security safeguards. The inclusion of companion bills and multiple technical amendments suggests a coordinated, procedural approach rather than a highly contentious standalone measure.
The most likely points of contention are the prisoner-ID provisions, the handling of noncitizen applicants and legal-presence verification, and the new communication impediment designation. Supporters may view the prisoner provisions as a reentry and public-safety measure that helps people leave custody with valid identification, while critics could raise concerns about administrative burden, fraud prevention, or the appropriateness of issuing IDs before release. The communication impediment designation may also draw scrutiny because it creates a police-facing marker tied to medical or developmental conditions, with penalties for false statements and authority for revocation if abused during traffic stops. The bill’s tie-bar to companion legislation indicates these issues are part of a broader legislative package.