Sen. Theresa Manzella, R-Hamilton, speaks before the Montana Senate Judiciary Committee on Jan. 15, 2025 (Screenshot by Montana Public Affairs Network).
The eagle may be landing, somewhere near a driver’s license or identification card in your wallet.
No, that won’t mean there’s more money coming to a pocket near you. Instead, state Sen. Theresa Manzella, R-Hamilton, is proposing legislation that would put an eagle — the national bird of the United States — or a similar logo on official identification documents issued by the State of Montana, which would be a sign to law enforcement and election officials that the person is a citizen of the United States.
She said the measure would help both groups of public officials help determine who is a citizen and who is not at critical points — during law enforcement stops and especially to ensure that only citizens vote, a subject of plenty of debate but rarely documented in Montana elections.
The measure was also meant to help ensure safe American borders, as a larger debate about immigration trickles down from the stage of national politics into state policies.
Senate Bill 91 would cost an estimated $177,000, mostly due to programming and software costs, so that beginning on Jan. 1, 2026, Montana would start adding an eagle symbol or logo that would indicate a person is a U.S. citizen. Manzella and other proponents of the bill argued that identifications and driver’s licenses can be issued to residents in the country legally but not citizens, adding to the confusion for law enforcement and especially election judges.
Manzella said it would also help staff with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services identify citizens are eligible for benefits.
“Just think of the dividends this will pay for election administrators, the DPHHS and allow for the security of our citizens,” Manzella said.
About a dozen members of the public testified in support of the bill, some arguing that an eagle logo on an official identification was so unique that people may renew their driver’s licenses early just to have a card with it.
Austin James, the elections administrator for Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, a Republican, said the department was urging lawmakers to pass the legislation and said it would help elections.
“Being proud to be an American is a beautiful thing,” James said.
If passed, Montana would become one of five other states that have an identifying marker that could allow Treasure State residents to travel freely in the Western Hemisphere. Michigan, New York, Vermont, Minnesota, and Washington have identifying marks on their identifications.
“Too many people are here illegally,” said Helena resident Ruth Rater. “We need to give law enforcement officials an advantage to know what they’re dealing with.”
However, Keaton Sunchild, a spokesman for Western Native Voice, which lobbies on behalf of the state’s Indigenous communities, said this legislation just puts additional barriers up for tribal members, many of whom already face difficulty when it comes to voting.
“We hate busywork at school or in the office and this is one more piece of busywork,” Sunchild said.
The legislation would not mean a change for Montana residents until they renew or get identification. Laurie Bakri, the administrator for the Montana Department of Motor Vehicles, said that it would take 12 years to cycle through the renewals.
“Currently, there is a misunderstanding about citizenship,” Manzella said. “If you have a driver’s license, it doesn’t guarantee citizenship. If you have a Social Security card it doesn’t guarantee citizenship.”