Before I begin, I want to make you aware that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has established a regional vaccination site in Laurel County for those in need of receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. They are providing the two-dose Pfizer vaccine. It is for people all over the region, and you do not have to call or go online to schedule an appointment. The clinic is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The site is located at the Laurel County Extension Office, 200 County Ext. Rd. in London.

Now, as Vice Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, I want to provide you a reminder and update on Kentucky’s new federally-compliant REAL IDs. Suppose you do not have an alternative form of ID such as a passport by May 3, 2023. In that case, you will need the new REAL ID (also known as a Voluntary Travel ID) to board a domestic airline and enter a military base or federal building like the White House (this does not include offices such as Social Security, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, etc.). The deadline to obtain a REAL ID has been changed several times. There was a deadline in place for October 1, but last week that date was pushed back to May 2023 due to COVID-19.

Not all residents of Kentucky have to have a REAL ID. Not everyone intends to travel by airplane or needs to enter federal facilities like military bases. A standard version of the new driver’s license will be available to you for those who will not need the REAL ID. The license you have now will remain valid until its expiration date, at which time you can get the new standard ID. They look similar to the REAL ID and different from the state driver’s license we are used to, but they do not have the federal compliant features that the REAL ID has.

REAL ID is a federally compliant card that serves as a license/permit/personal ID and can be used for the purposes mentioned. In 2017—four years before my time in the Kentucky General Assembly—House Bill 410 was passed. In response to federal law implemented following September 11, 2001, it brought Kentucky into compliance with federal law. The state put off complying with the federal law as long as it could, hoping the federal government would back off of this mandate, but it never did. The bill allowed the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to begin implementing and issuing new REAL ID in 2019. The implementation process was long and required multiple extensions from the Department of Homeland Security as the state worked to get everything in place to issue REAL IDs. COVID-19 made matters even more challenging as in-person government services were limited. Furthermore, Kentucky had to transition from a county by county rollout using our circuit clerk’s offices to a rollout using regional offices.

Early in 2020—before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic—the Governor and KYTC held a press conference announcing the opening of regional offices to assist Kentuckians with getting a REAL ID. The technology required to provide new IDs did not, nor does, exist at our local circuit clerk’s offices. In hopes of addressing this, KYTC had established several Regional Offices throughout the state. Those offices serve as hubs to provide new IDs. I want to encourage you to take a moment to visit drive.ky.gov to find information on this matter. There is understandably a lot of confusion surrounding this topic, and the once-in-a-lifetime pandemic threw a wrench in our ability to travel and visit government offices in person over the past 14 months. I hope that by providing this information to you directly, some might avoid frustrations in acquiring their ID.

To apply for the REAL ID, you will have to provide the following:

• One proof of identity documentation—this can be a birth certificate. If you need to obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate, contact the Vital Statistics Office at 502-564-4212. Suppose your name has changed from the name listed on your documents. In that case, you will also need to provide proof documents that show a direct link between your name changes, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, legal name court order, or valid U.S. Military ID. Name matchups on your documents will be a critical requirement.
• One proof of your Social Security Number—you can go to ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213 to request a replacement card. Originally, laminated Social Security cards were not going to be accepted, but DHS has loosened some document requirements. Recent IRS forms such as your 1099 or W-2 will also be accepted if they show your SSN. Finally, a paycheck from an employer with that information is a valid option.
• Proof of residency—one for the standard ID option; two for the REAL ID. A Kentucky driver’s license may be used as one of the two required proofs of address.

You can schedule an appointment at a regional office near you by going to drive.ky.gov and selecting the office you wish to visit. You will be shown available appointment dates and times. Bring the required forms of identification previously listed to your appointment. Regional offices currently open include the following cities: Bowling Green, Burlington, Catlettsburg, Columbia, Elizabethtown, Frankfort, Jackson, Lexington, Louisville-Bowman, Louisville, Buechel Station, Louisville-Hurstbourne, Madisonville, Morehead, Owensboro, Paducah, Prestonsburg, Richmond, and Somerset.

By June 30, 2022, nearly all driver’s licensing services will be transferred from circuit court clerk’s offices to these regional offices. New services will include online license renewal that can save people trips. More regional offices may open in the future. I am working hard with Secretary Jim Gray and KYTC to get one opened in Laurel County to assist citizens better and provide surrounding counties a closer option. Our county’s population size should qualify it for a regional office. I will keep you updated on any developments.

People may have been reluctant or unable to get a REAL ID due to COVID-19, but now with restrictions starting to ease, there may be a bottleneck effect on making appointments at these regional offices. If you want to make an appointment in the near future, go online as soon as possible to schedule the earliest available date and time. Do not wait up until the last minute.

New REAL IDs cost $48, but now last eight years instead of current licenses four years. A four-year option is available for half the costs. There are also discount options available depending on the expiration of your current standard IDs. I encourage you to visit KYTC’s website to ensure you are familiar with this information. The Frequently Asked Questions page is informative and can answer most of your questions. You can call KYTC directly at 502-564-1257. Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have any questions. I will be happy to help in any way I can.

It is a true honor to represent Laurel, Jackson, Estill, Powell, Menifee, and Bath Counties in the Kentucky State Senate. If you have any questions about this issue or any other matter of importance to you, contact my office toll-free by calling 502-564-8100. You can also email me at brandon.storm@lrc.ky.gov. Stay safe. God bless.

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Note: Senator Brandon J. Storm (R-London) represents the 21^st District, which encompasses Bath, Estill, Jackson, Laurel, Menifee, and Powell Counties. Senator Storm is the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and serves as Chairman of the Enrollment Committee. He also serves as a member of the Senate Standing Committees on Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor; State and Local Government; Banking and Insurance; and the Budget Review Subcommittee on Human Resources. Additionally, Senator Storm is a member of the Statutory Committees on Program Review and Investigations and Child Welfare Oversight and Advisory.