Alaska Legislators Consider Short-Term Driver’s Licenses

The Alaska House of Representatives will consider creating short-term driver’s licenses for temporary residents.

HB1 would allow the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue licenses that expire as soon as a temporary resident’s authorization to live in the U.S. has finished. The measure would also require residents who are authorized to stay indefinitely to renew their license every year, but would be allowed to renew their license by mail. Applicable renewal fees would be waived for the first five years.

Under the current law, legal temporary residents are eligible to receive a license valid for five years regardless of the duration of their stay.

The bill, first sponsored by Anchorage Republican Rep. Bob Lynn, will be discussed Tuesday.