AN ACT to provide for MOBILE drivers licenseS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 20‑4.01 reads as rewritten:

§ 20‑4.01.  Definitions.

Unless the context requires otherwise, the following definitions apply throughout this Chapter to the defined words and phrases and their cognates:

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(21b)    Mobile Drivers License. – A supplemental digital version of a valid drivers license that (i) is approved by the Commissioner, (ii) is issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles, (iii) is comprised of the same data elements as are found on a valid drivers license, and (iv) is capable of, and limited to, being linked to, and displayed by, a mobile device owned by the person to whom the valid drivers license is issued.

(21c)    Motor Carrier. – A for‑hire motor carrier or a private motor carrier.

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SECTION 2.  G.S. 20‑7 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

(m1)   Mobile Drivers License. – Upon request of an applicant for whom a valid license exists or is issued, the Commissioner may issue a mobile drivers license as a supplement to the valid license. A mobile drivers license shall be treated as the legal equivalent of a valid license.

SECTION 3.  The Division of Motor Vehicles of the North Carolina Department of Transportation shall study and provide a plan for implementing mobile drivers licenses as authorized in this act. The study and plan shall address (i) anticipated drivers license issuance and renewal process changes, (ii) anticipated changes to staffing needs for the Division for implementation of mobile drivers licenses, (iii) estimated one‑time and annual costs to the Division or any other State agency resulting from implementation, (iv) evaluation of whether implementation of mobile drivers licenses will be undertaken by the Division or contracted to a third‑party vendor and relevant contractual issues associated with either option, (v) changes in revenue for the Division or any other State agency, (vi) security and confidentiality of drivers license information, (vii) concerns of State and local law enforcement agencies within North Carolina, including examining means by which to prevent unintended violations of an individual's constitutional rights, (viii) an estimated time line for implementation, including steps required to facilitate mobile drivers licenses, and (ix) any other issue the Division deems relevant to the study. The Division shall report its findings of this study, including any legislative recommendations, to the North Carolina General Assembly, the chairs of the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee, and the Fiscal Research Division no later than January 1, 2024.

SECTION 4.  Sections 1 and 2 of this act become effective July 1, 2025. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.