By Sen. Max Wise
In just a few days, Kentuckians will face new federal requirements for air travel and federal building access under the REAL ID Act. Starting May 7, standard driver’s licenses will no longer be accepted for boarding domestic flights or entering secure federal facilities. Only a REAL ID-compliant license, or an alternative like a U.S. passport or passport card, will meet federal standards.
Earlier this month, I joined my Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem asking for an additional extension. With only about 37 percent of Kentuckians compliant, many families may face long waits, travel disruptions and avoidable frustrations.
Let me clarify who actually needs a REAL ID.
If you fly domestically or visit secure federal buildings, you will need a REAL ID, passport, passport card, or another REAL ID compliant form of ID.
If you do not fly or visit federal facilities, you do not need a REAL ID. A standard driver’s license will still allow you to drive, vote and conduct everyday activities.
Alternative options, like passports or military IDs, can also substitute for a REAL ID when traveling or accessing federal buildings.
If you do not plan on flying soon or visiting a federal building, you do not need to rush to get a REAL ID by May 7. That is the deadline for enforcement, not the deadline to obtain a REAL ID. Appointments will continue to be available after May 7.
Many Kentuckians still face barriers outside their control. Years ago, licensing services moved from local circuit court clerks to regional offices because clerks could not meet federal security standards. Kentucky was the only state using local offices for driver’s licenses at the time. With the enactment of REAL ID legislation in 2019, licensing transitioned to regional centers operated by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. While the General Assembly has passed laws to help—such as allowing mail-in and online renewals, approving mobile pop-up licensing units to visit unserved counties at least twice annually, and expanding regional offices—day-to-day management of REAL ID remains an executive branch responsibility.
Several issues persist.
Lack of appointment availability. Currently, many regional offices have no availability until June. There are some available in regional offices in eastern and western Kentucky, but the Louisville, Lexington and northern Kentucky offices are fully booked.
Public communication has been lacking, which results in a bottleneck of appointments. It’s been unclear who actually needs a REAL ID, and who may not.
Regional offices are only open one Saturday a month, despite lawmakers urging expanded days and hours. States like New Jersey have expanded hours, but Kentucky has not prioritized problem-solving efforts to maximize our time between now and May 7.
Staff shortages and morale problems at licensing centers continue to delay services. Please be kind to staff when you visit these offices and events.
Similar patterns of delay, seen during the unemployment insurance backlog and ongoing permitting issues, have been a recurring trend. The Governor provides weekly updates, but has unfortunately not dedicated time in the past several months to raising awareness on this topic.
Driver’s licensing regional offices nearest counties in the 16th Senate District include the Columbia Driver Licensing Office at 363 Office Park Drive, Suite 200 in Adair County, and the Bowling Green office at 360 East 8th Avenue, Suite 111 in Warren County. There’s also a regional office in Somerset at 650 North Main Street, Suite 240 in Pulaski County.
To help, a special REAL ID pop-up event is coming to Adair, Allen, Metcalfe, Monroe, and Taylor Counties. Details are as follows.
Allen County
October 23
Allen County Fiscal Court County Building
201 West Main Street
Scottsville, KY 42164
Registration opens October 9 at 8 a.m.
Metcalfe County
June 12
201 E. Stockton Street, P.O Box 27
Edmonton, KY 42129
Registration for Metcalfe County will open on drive.ky.gov on May 29 at 8 a.m.
Monroe County
September 16
Monroe County William B. Harlan Memorial Library
500 West 4th Street
Tompkinsville, KY 42167
Registration opens September 2 at 8 a.m.
Taylor County
July 22 and November 12
Taylor County Community Center
1425 Hodgenville Road
Campbellsville, KY 42718
Registration for July 22 opens July 8 at 8 a.m. Registration for November 12 opens October 29 at 8 a.m.
Pop-up events are only for residents of the county hosting the event.
If you plan to visit a regional office or pop-up, you must bring
one proof of identity (certified birth certificate),
one proof of Social Security (card or W-2/1099 form),
two proofs of residency (license, utility bill), and
proof of any name changes (marriage license, court order).
Visit drive.ky.gov for more information or to register. Please remember a vision screening is now required to renew a Kentucky Driver’s license.
It is an honor to serve you in the Kentucky Senate.
Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, represents the 16th Senate District, including Adair, Allen, Metcalfe, Monroe, and Taylor Counties and eastern Warren County. Wise serves as Senate majority floor leader. He is a member of the Senate Committees on Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor; Education; and Families and Children. As part of Senate leadership, Wise also serves on the Legislative Research Commission, the Rules Committee, and the Committee on Committees. He co-chaired the Workforce Attraction and Retention Task Force during the 2024 Interim.
(Dustin R. Isaacs – Office of Senate Majority Floor Leader Max Wise)