Ron DeSantis has signed new legislation requiring Florida driver’s licenses and state identification cards to display an individual’s immigration status, a change that will apply to all new and renewed IDs beginning January 1, 2027.

The provision is part of Florida’s SAVE Act, a broader law focused on election integrity and voter verification. State officials say the measure is designed to streamline identification processes and ensure that eligibility requirements are clearly documented.

Under current rules, applicants for a Florida driver’s license must already provide proof of legal status, including documents such as a birth certificate, U.S. passport, or naturalization certificate, along with Social Security verification and proof of residency. The new law builds on those requirements by adding visible immigration status information directly to identification cards.

The legislation also mirrors elements of proposed federal election reforms, including requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, mandating voter identification, limiting widespread mail-in voting with exceptions, and increasing coordination between state and local agencies to identify potentially ineligible voters.

Supporters argue the changes will strengthen election security and improve transparency in the voting process. DeSantis said safeguarding elections has been a priority for his administration, adding that the law enhances oversight and helps prevent unlawful participation in elections.

The law also includes provisions requiring the use of paper ballots and expanded use of existing identification systems to verify voter eligibility.

Florida already requires identification to vote, and state officials say the new measures are intended to reinforce existing safeguards while standardizing verification procedures across agencies.

The changes are scheduled to take effect in 2027, giving state agencies time to implement the new requirements and update identification systems accordingly.