Immigrant Groups Fight License Bill

The law would apply to renewals as well.

"The impact of the legislation will be significant," said Pam Goheen, spokeswoman for the Virginia DMV. "We need to fully evaluate the bill."

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the legislation would cost states $100 million over five years to implement.

But Cheye Calvo, director of the transportation committee of the National Council of State Legislatures, said the costs to states could be five to seven times that.

"The cost of verifying these documents alone is incredible," Calvo said. "Then you have training, security standards, equipment, physical upgrades to the licenses, biometrics. This stuff doesn't come free."

Bills similar to Real ID have repeatedly failed in the Maryland General Assembly, frustrating lawmakers who see the issue as central to the U.S. war on terrorism.

"The most common way you get on a plane in the U.S. is by showing a driver's license," said Del. Herbert H. McMillan (R-Anne Arundel), who introduced driver's license bills in the last two legislative sessions. "It attracts a lot less attention than showing a passport from Saudi Arabia."

For McMillan, the issue is more personal. A 767 pilot with American Airlines, he flew frequently with Charles Burlingame, the captain of Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon.

Other provisions of Real ID would tighten asylum regulations and tighten security along the U.S.-Mexican border near San Diego. The bill was introduced by Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.).