LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Changes are coming for license holders and their gender on their IDs in Arkansas.
The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration announced a revision to its policies on gender for IDs.
According to a press release, DFA is rescinding its existing administrative practice that allows license holders to change their gender without any verifiable information or to utilize an “X” in place of gender.
DFA said the changes are effective immediately.
This change announced today reflects a commonsense approach that ensures a license or ID issued by the State of Arkansas is based on objective, verifiable information,” said DFA Secretary Jim Hudson. “All of our stakeholders in law enforcement, other government agencies, caregivers, schools, and businesses depend on DFA-issued licenses and IDs to keep our communities safe and to prevent fraud.
According to DFA, if licenses and IDs with the “X” designation have already been issued, they will remain valid through the existing expiration date.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders also released a statement on these changes.
This policy is just common sense. Only women give birth, men shouldn’t play women’s sports, and there are only two genders. As long as I’m Governor, Arkansas state government will not endorse nonsense,” said Sanders.
The current policy which allows the use of “X” on licenses and IDs was first rolled out in 2010.
Sec. Hudson said he has been reviewing the policies since late 2023 and that the revised policy is legal and in conjunction with Arkansas law.
“The discontinued policy is not supported by Arkansas law and was never subject to public comment and review by the Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC), as required by the Administrative Procedures Act,” said Hudson.
The policy allowing the use of X was flagged for Hudson after he began reviewing department policies in August 2023.
To find out more about these new changes, you can visit DFA’s website.
