A key New Mexico Senate committee has passed a bill lawmakers called a "compromise" aimed at making New Mexico compliant under the federal REAL ID Act.
Senators voted 8-1 to combine a bipartisan bill with a recently passed version out of the Republican-controlled House as pressure mounted to pass a REAL ID fix.
The compromise would allow all New Mexico residents to apply for REAL ID compliant licenses or obtain a "driver's permit card."
Under the proposal, immigrants in the country illegally would be allowed to apply for the permit card but could no longer get a New Mexico driver's license.
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7 p.m.
A key New Mexico Senate committee is trying to combine proposals to make New Mexico compliant under the federal REAL ID Act.
Senators debated Tuesday on merging a bipartisan bill with a recently passed version out of the Republican-controlled House.
Republican Sen. Stuart Ingle says the move was needed to get a compromise out of the full Senate and get it back in the House in time before the 30-day Legislative session ends in less than three weeks.
The compromise would allow all New Mexico residents to apply for REAL ID compliant licenses or obtain a "driver's permit card."
Under the proposal, immigrants in the country illegally would be allowed to apply for the permit card but could no longer get a New Mexico driver's license.
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5:30 p.m.
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez is throwing his support behind a bipartisan compromise to make New Mexico compliant under the federal REAL ID Act.
Sanchez spokesman Jim Farrell said Tuesday the senator supports a bill that would allow all New Mexico residents to apply for REAL ID compliant licenses or obtain a "driver's permit card."
Under the proposal, immigrants in the country illegally would be allowed to apply for the permit card but could no longer get a New Mexico driver's license.
But Republican Gov. Susana Martinez says that bill doesn't require fingerprints for immigrants and still opened up the state to fraud.
Sanchez said in a January letter he was open to fingerprinting.
Farrell says Sanchez is open to supporting provisions that lead to a compromise.
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4:15 p.m.
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez says he's open to stronger security measures to make New Mexico compliant under the federal REAL ID Act.
Sanchez spokesman Jim Farrell said Tuesday the senator would support a Republican provision to require immigrants in the country illegally to submit fingerprints before receiving state driver's permit cards.
A bipartisan proposal introduced Monday would allow all New Mexico residents to apply for REAL ID compliant licenses or obtain a "driver's permit card." Under the proposal, immigrants in the country illegally would be allowed to apply for the permit card but could no longer get a New Mexico driver's license.
Gov. Susana Martinez and Republicans say that bill didn't have the fingerprint requirements and still opened up the state to fraud.
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3:45 p.m.
A New Mexico Senate committee has begun debate on various proposals aimed at making New Mexico compliant under the federal REAL ID Act.
The Senate Public Affairs Committee is discussing Tuesday competing bills amid pressure to come up with a REAL ID fix.
Immigrant advocates are expected to speak against bills that take away state driver's licenses from immigrants in the country illegally.
A bipartisan proposal introduced Monday combines elements of Democratic and Republican bills in an effort to end a stalemate among lawmakers.
That bill would allow all New Mexico residents to apply for REAL ID compliant licenses or obtain a "driver's permit card." Under the proposal, immigrants in the country illegally would be allowed to apply for the permit card but could no longer get a New Mexico driver's license.