UPDATED: Attempt to revive driver’s license debate fell short

SANTA FE –An effort by House Republicans to move a bill to the floor that would stop the practice of issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants failed this afternoon.

House Minority Whip Nate Gentry, R-Albuquerque, called for a series of procedural votes to move House Bill 606 out of the House Labor and Human Resources Committee, where it was tabled, and onto the House floor for debate.  The effort required several votes to bypass each of the three House committees the bill was assigned before the legislation could be considered by the full House.

Following two 36-34 votes to advance the bill out of the Labor and Judiciary committees, the legislation became stuck in the House Appropriations and Finance Committee on a 35-35 tie, which prohibits further action. Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, D-Los Alamos, initially voted to advance the bill out of the Labor and Human Resources Committee, but changed her vote to create the tie.

House Bill 606, sponsored by Rep. Paul Pacheco, R-Albuquerque, would allow citizens and legal immigrants to get a newly designed driver’s license that would comply with the federal REAL ID Act when their current licenses expire.

The Pacheco proposal would create a second, unique driver’s license for illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children and have been granted deferred immigration action status by the federal government.

If passed by the Appropriations and Finance Committee, the bill would advance to the House floor.