Ron DeSantis Signs Florida SAVE Act Requiring Citizenship Markers

Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Florida SAVE Act, also known as House Bill 991, which mandates that all newly issued, renewed, or replaced driver's licenses and state identification cards display the holder's citizenship status starting January 1, 2027. Licenses for U.S. citizens will explicitly state their status, while those for non-citizens, including legal permanent residents, will be marked with the letters NC for Not a Citizen.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will oversee the implementation of these markers. Existing identification cards remain valid until expiration, and the state will offer free replacement cards to non-citizens who subsequently obtain U.S. citizenship.

Beyond identification markers, the law introduces stricter voter identification requirements. Starting July 1, 2026, and fully by January 1, 2027, the law will invalidate student IDs, retirement center IDs, and debit cards as acceptable forms of voter identification. Voters will instead be required to provide passports or birth certificates paired with an ID to ensure only citizens register to vote.

The ACLU of Florida and the NAACP have filed lawsuits to block the law, arguing it creates administrative barriers and disenfranchises eligible voters. Federal District Court Judge Jaqueline Becerra consolidated these cases on May 20, though no final resolution has been reached.