ST. PAUL - The Minnesota House has passed a Real ID bill by a vote
of 72-58 after years of concern about government overreach and data privacy
surrounding the federal law.

Lawmakers are staring down a Jan. 2018 deadline to distribute
federally-approved IDs before Minnesota residents are barred from boarding
domestic flights and entering military bases with their old IDs. Minnesota is
one of only five states that is considered non-compliant.

Many Democrats pushed against a provision in the bill that they say would bar
illegal immigrants from obtaining drivers licenses. An amendment to strip that
language failed.

House Speaker Kurt Daudt says he is confident the legislation will be signed
into law this year and says the two chambers will be able reconcile differences
between their bills when that time comes.

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