Legislative Briefing on the MA ID Bill

“If I can’t get a job without an ID, how do I get the money to get an ID? That is the cycle of [young adult] homelessness that is so difficult to break out of.”

Did you know that for the last eight years Massachusetts has been trying to pass a law that would make it easier for vulnerable families, young adults, and the elderly to get a state ID?

The Everyone Needs ID bill (S.2251 / H.3360 / H.3388) aims to remove barriers to obtaining State identification by reducing cost and proof of residence requirements. Simply put, this act would simplify the process and waive fees for a person or an unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness to apply for a state identification card. The bill would require the Registry of Motor Vehicles to waive the $25 fee for an ID and allow applicants to use alternative documentation to prove Massachusetts residency, such as allowing individuals to provide evidence of receiving services from a state agency under the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS).

Last year, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed the bill for the fourth time, but it once again awaits review from the Committee on Ways and Means in the House of Representatives.

More than two decades ago, Rep. Kay Khan, a former nurse and co-sponsor of the bill, joined the crusade for more equitable ID distribution as a member of the committee on Housing. Even back then, Khan heard about the obstacles people in the Commonwealth were facing regarding stable housing. "When you come into the legislature as a new State Rep, you have an opportunity to be on a committee. I was assigned to the Housing Committee, and it was amazing to sit there and see what the need was out there,” recalled Khan. “It's such an important issue. The ID piece is just critical [to housing]. Everybody needs to have an ID. You can't vote without an ID. I think of that a lot, especially right now – the number of people who can't vote... it's something that needs to be brought up." 

The reality, nearly 30 years later, is that progress continues to stall while young people sleep on park benches, families stay in Logan Airport, and hospital emergency rooms are used as humane shelters. Despite strong backing from elected officials like Khan, we are nearing crisis mode. We should not have to wait another year to get unhoused people stabilized. 

The Everyone Needs ID bill is far from unprecedented; sixteen other states and Washington D.C. have already passed similar legislation that would allow unhoused community members – or those with no formal or permanent address – to receive a State ID. “This is not a controversial bill,” reiterated Rep. Jim O’Day – a former state social worker, long-time state representative, and co-sponsor of the bill – to a crowd at the State House this November. According to Rep. O’Day, the Department of Homeland Security has even reviewed the bill to quell any public safety concerns. Rep. O’Day is right; removing barriers to identification will only help underserved communities access service connections and accelerate housing stability.

This week, young adults from Breaktime’s program were invited to join Rep. O’Day and the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless at the State House for a legislative briefing on the MA ID bill. Breaktime Associates bravely shared their experiences accessing IDs in Massachusetts and the importance of removing barriers to receiving this documentation. “If I can’t get a job without an ID, how do I get the money to get an ID,” asked Sammy, a Breaktime Associate. “That is the cycle of [young adult] homelessness that is so difficult to break out of.” Obtaining a state identification card is a critical first step for youth experiencing homelessness to access opportunities, such as applying for jobs, enrolling in education programs, and opening financial accounts.

The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless is leading the advocacy efforts to advance the Senate version of the Mass ID bill. It is time for Massachusetts to join the communities that are working to mitigate this issue and provide avenues to securing housing, employment, and more necessary services. Learn how you can support the swift passage of the #EveryoneNeedsID bill here.