North Dakotans will have the option of getting a mobile version of their driver’s license on their smartphone, not too far down the road. On Monday, April 19, Gov. Doug Burgum signed into law a bill calling for establishment of a mobile or electronic driver’s license system in the state.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has published a request for information in the Federal Register seeking information about security standards and technologies concerning mobile driver’s licenses. Responses to the request for information will support future DHS/TSA rulemaking to update the REAL ID Act implementing regulation to accommodate mobile driver’s licenses.

Texas may soon allow driver’s licenses to be accessible on residents’ cell phones. A new bill, dubbed HB 273, was filed by Democratic State Representative Terry Canales, and, if passed, will create a pilot program for digital identification in the Lone Star State.

Eventually, there may be no more digging a laminated ID card out of your purse or wallet, if planners of Utah’s mobile driver license are on the right track. Utah is preparing to try the mobile technology, said to be a better method of preserving the privacy of personal information while increasing convenience.

Proposed law, Assembly Bill 1503, would create a pilot project that gives the California Department of Motor Vehicles until 2026 to report back with a program the state could adopt permanently. The pilot program would include 0.5% (one-half of one percent) of those with current driver’s licenses. The bill cleared the Assembly Transportation Committee with bipartisan support earlier this week. It’s now headed to the Assembly Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection.

Utah is one of nearly two dozen states exploring digital driver’s licenses, stored on smartphones, that state officials say come with enhanced privacy and control.

“The Utah Driver License Division (DLD) has launched a mobile driver license (mDL) pilot for offering driver’s licenses and ID cards on mobile phones. The pilot will demonstrate improvement in citizen privacy and security, while highlighting the convenience and safety of tap and go transactions. It will use a fully ISO 18013-5-compliant mobile app, following the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) mDL Implementation Guidelines.”

(Bismarck, ND) — North Dakotans may get a new option for their licenses. A bill is headed through the legislature that would give residents the choice to bring up their driver’s license information on their phones. The House bill proposes the creation of an electronic proof of licensing system through the North Dakota Department of Transportation. The program would be optional with a five-dollar charge to opt in.

Joining more than a dozen other states already testing or using similar technology, Arizona now offers its residents the option of a digital driver’s license, the identity management firm Idemia announced Thursday.

Smartphones have already obviated single-purpose gadgets like point-and-shoot cameras and MP3 players. Google today announced the Android Ready SE Alliance to make sure new phones have the underlying hardware to eventually replace car/home keys and wallets.