Monitoring the Session

SB 964

noncitizen ID cards and licenses must look different

Did not pass

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Bryan HughesRSenate 1

Initial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the appearance of a personal identification certificate or driver's license issued to a person who is not a citizen of the United States.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

Plus a voting eligibility notice on the front.

The bill requires Texas ID cards and driver's licenses issued to noncitizens to look different from those issued to citizens and to print "NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE" on the front. It touches noncitizens who get or renew a Texas ID or license, and the Department of Public Safety that issues them. Starting September 1, 2025, new and renewed noncitizen cards must use a distinct layout, vertical for licenses, with the voting notice in the same font size as the card number.

Labels

Labels: GOT HALFWAY. Passed the Senate on Apr 16, 2025. Died in the House: voted out of the Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs committee 8-3, no floor vote.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB964 · 2025-01-29

SOLD BY

Sen. Bryan HughesRSenate 1

+ 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to the appearance of a personal identification certificate or driver's license issued to a person who is not a citizen of the United States.

WHAT IT DOES

Plus a voting eligibility notice on the front.

The bill requires Texas ID cards and driver's licenses issued to noncitizens to look different from those issued to citizens and to print "NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE" on the front. It touches noncitizens who get or renew a Texas ID or license, and the Department of Public Safety that issues them. Starting September 1, 2025, new and renewed noncitizen cards must use a distinct layout, vertical for licenses, with the voting notice in the same font size as the card number.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · March 28, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Criminal Justice
  5. Rereferred to committee
  6. Referred to State Affairs
  7. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  8. Considered in public hearing
  9. Testimony taken in committee
  10. Left pending in committee
  11. Considered in public hearing
  12. Vote taken in committee
  13. Reported favorably as substituted
  14. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  15. Committee report printed and distributed
  16. Co-author authorized
  17. Placed on intent calendar
  18. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  19. Record vote
  20. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  21. Record vote
  22. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  23. Record vote
  24. Read 3rd time
  25. Passed
  26. Record vote
  27. Reported engrossed
  28. Received from the Senate
  29. Read first time
  30. Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
  31. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  32. Considered in public hearing
  33. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  34. Left pending in committee
  35. Considered in formal meeting
  36. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  37. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  38. Committee report distributed
  39. Committee report sent to Calendars
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

Senate · 22 yea · 9 nay

Sources

Senate: Final passage · Apr 16, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Bryan Hughes

Donors

GOPAC Election Fund$250KCRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)$100KCourt Reform Action for Families Texas PAC$100K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

GOPAC Election Fund$250,000.00

GOPAC Election Fund

$250,000.00

Cash
$250,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$250,000.00

Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101028838, 101071548.

CRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)$100,000.00

CRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Sep 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Sep 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101067724.

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC$100,000.00

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 13, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101071548.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

GOPAC Election Fund

$250,000.00

Cash
$250,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$250,000.00

Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101028838, 101071548.

×

CRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Sep 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Sep 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101067724.

×

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 13, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101071548.

Votes4

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Yea
22
Nay
9
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 22, Nays 9. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 22 (published)
  • Nay: 9 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Yea
22
Nay
9
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Hughes moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 964 at this time on its third reading and final passage: CSSB 964, Relating to the appearance of a personal identification certificate or driver's license issued to a person who is not a citizen of the United States. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 22, Nays 9.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 22 (published)
  • Nay: 9 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Yea
22
Nay
9
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 22, Nays 9. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 22 (published)
  • Nay: 9 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Yea
22
Nay
9
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Hughes moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 964 at this time on its second reading: CSSB 964, Relating to the appearance of a personal identification certificate or driver's license issued to a person who is not a citizen of the United States. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 22, Nays 9.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 22 (published)
  • Nay: 9 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses59
For
23
Against
33
On
3
Names

For

  • Harris County Deputies' Organization FOP #391 registration
  • Honest Elections Project Action1 registration
  • Self12 registrations
  • Self; District Attorney's Office, Kleberg & Kenedy Counties, Texas1 registration
  • Self; Harris county ballot security1 registration
  • Self; Houston Police Officers’ Union1 registration
  • Self; SREC Committeeman SD31 registration
  • Self; SREC Committeewoman SD31 registration
  • Self; State Republican Executive Committeeman SD24, Self1 registration
  • Sheriffs’ Association of Texas1 registration
  • Texas Municipal Police Association1 registration
  • TMPA1 registration

Against

  • ACLU of Texas1 registration
  • Common Cause Texas2 registrations
  • Common cause texas1 registration
  • Every Texan1 registration
  • Self21 registrations
  • Self; ACLU-TX1 registration
  • Self; No1 registration
  • Self; Texas Democratic Party1 registration
  • Self; The Libertarian Party of Texas1 registration
  • Self; TX Impact1 registration
  • Texas Civil Rights Project2 registrations

On

  • Self1 registration
  • Texas Department of Public Safety1 registration
  • Texas DPS1 registration
Sources

59 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · March 28, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Jan 29, 2025

05/12/2025 H Committee report sent to Calendars

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Pete FloresRSenate 24
Sponsors
Carrie IsaacRHouse 73

House committee · Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs · Committee vote 8 aye, 3 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · State Affairs · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Aliens

Elections--Registration & Suffrage

Vehicles & Traffic--Driver's Licenses

IDENTIFICATION CARDS

Text

The text as introduced · 326 words

89R10340 MZM-D

By: Hughes
S.B. No. 964

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the appearance of a personal identification certificate

or driver's license issued to a person who is not a citizen of the

United States.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Section 521.1017 to read as follows:

Sec. 521.1017. DESIGNATOR ON CERTIFICATE ISSUED TO

NONCITIZEN. A personal identification certificate issued to a

person who is not a citizen of the United States must:

(1) orient the information on the certificate to

clearly distinguish the certificate from a personal identification

certificate issued to a person who is a citizen; and

(2) display the word "NONCITIZEN" on the front of the

certificate in the same font size as the individual's personal

identification certificate number.

SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Section 521.1231 to read as follows:

Sec. 521.1231. DESIGNATOR ON LICENSE ISSUED TO NONCITIZEN.

A driver's license issued to an applicant who is not a citizen of

the United States must:

(1) orient the information on the license vertically,

regardless of the age of the applicant, to clearly distinguish the

license from a driver's license issued to a person who is a citizen;

and

(2) display the word "NONCITIZEN" on the front of the

license in the same font size as the individual's driver's license

number.

SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

a personal identification certificate or driver's license issued or

renewed on or after the effective date of this Act. A personal

identification certificate or driver's license issued or renewed

before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in

effect when the license or certificate was issued or renewed, and

the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.