COFA Alliance National Network

May 28, 2013

Oregon Passes HB 2517 Full-Term Driver’s License

House Bill 2517, often referred to as the Full-Term Driver’s License bill, is a legislative measure designed to eliminate administrative hurdles for certain non-citizen residents—specifically those living in the U.S. under the Compact of Free Association (COFA).

In states like Utah and Oregon, where this legislation has been a priority, the bill fundamentally changes how the state issues identification to COFA citizens (from the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau).

The Core Problem: The “Limited-Term” Cycle

Prior to this bill, many COFA citizens were issued Limited-Term Driver’s Licenses. Because their legal status in the U.S. is governed by a treaty rather than a standard green card or citizenship, state systems often defaulted to short-term expiration dates (sometimes as short as one year).

This created several issues:

Financial Burden: Residents had to pay renewal fees every year.
Employer Confusion: Employers often mistook the “Limited-Term” label as an indication that the person’s right to work was expiring soon.
Administrative Waste: It created constant, unnecessary backlogs at the DMV.

Key Provisions of HB 2517

1. Reclassification of COFA Status

The bill mandates that for the purposes of issuing driver’s licenses and state IDs, COFA citizens be treated similarly to permanent residents. Instead of a temporary or “limited” license, they are now eligible for a full-term license (typically valid for 5 to 8 years, depending on the state).

2. Removal of the “Limited-Term” Marker

By removing the “Limited-Term” text from the physical ID card, the bill helps prevent discrimination. This ensures that when a COFA citizen shows their ID to rent an apartment, open a bank account, or apply for a job, the ID looks identical to any other resident’s license.

3. Proof of Residence Requirements

While the bill extends the duration of the license, it does not waive standard safety requirements. Applicants must still:

Provide proof of identity.
Provide proof of state residency.
Pass the standard written and driving examinations.

Significance of the Bill

The passage of HB 2517 is seen as a major victory for equity and integration. It acknowledges that COFA citizens are long-term members of the community with the right to live and work in the U.S. indefinitely.

By streamlining this process, the state reduces the “paperwork poverty” that often affects immigrant communities and ensures that a simple trip to the DMV doesn’t become an annual barrier to maintaining a job or driving a family to school.