DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR ALL
Brunch and Learn 2025
Comprehensive Legislative Resource Guide | November 19, 2025
Undocumented immigrants are part of Pennsylvania's working class. Over 150,000 undocumented workers—along with nurses, teachers, construction workers, factory workers, and service industry employees—make up Pennsylvania's diverse working-class community. This comprehensive resource provides legislators with proven data showing that Driver's Licenses for All policies improve public safety, strengthen the economy, and benefit all working families.
Pennsylvania Already Had This Policy
Before 2002
Pennsylvania allowed residents to obtain driver's licenses using Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs). Working families could legally drive to work, take their children to school, and access healthcare.
2002-2025
Pennsylvania changed its policy, removing the ability for ITIN holders to get driver's licenses. For over 20 years, 150,000 working families have been unable to legally drive.
2025 - HB 1518
Pennsylvania has the opportunity to restore this proven policy. HB 1518 would allow ITIN holders to obtain driver's licenses again—restoring what worked before 2002.
WHY THIS POLICY WORKS: PROVEN RESULTS
Voter Fraud Is Not a Real Concern
0.0001% — Actual voter fraud rate found in comprehensive study of 23.5 million votes (30 suspected cases total). Heritage Foundation database shows only 85 noncitizen voting cases nationwide across 21 years (2002-2023). 19 states plus DC have had these laws for up to 22 years with zero documented fraud problems.
Sources: Brennan Center for Justice 2016 analysis of 23.5 million votes across 42 jurisdictions; Heritage Foundation voter fraud database (conservative source)
Massachusetts Voters Strongly Supported It
53.6% to 46.4% — Massachusetts voters upheld their driver's license law in November 2022, despite Republican-led repeal effort. Law has been in effect since July 2023 with zero legal challenges, zero implementation problems, and zero fraud cases. Secretary of State Bill Galvin called voter fraud claims "completely bogus" and "foolish nonsense."
Sources: Massachusetts Secretary of State official 2022 election results; CBS Boston interview with Secretary Galvin
Dramatic Safety Improvements
New Mexico: Uninsured driver rate dropped from 33% to 9.1% (24-point reduction)
Connecticut: 1,200 fewer hit-and-run crashes annually since implementation
Utah: Uninsured rate dropped from 28% to 8% (20-point reduction)
Connecticut: 1,200 fewer hit-and-run crashes annually since implementation
Utah: Uninsured rate dropped from 28% to 8% (20-point reduction)
Sources: Insurance Research Council state-by-state uninsured motorist tracking; Connecticut DMV crash data analysis; Utah State Audit uninsured motorist study
No Population "Magnet" Effect
States with driver's license access show no unusual population increases compared to neighboring states without the policy. Pennsylvania's undocumented population has been stable for over a decade. Four neighboring states (NY, NJ, MD, DE) already have these laws—Pennsylvania would not be unique.
Sources: Migration Policy Institute state-by-state population tracking; Pew Research Center demographic trends analysis
Nationwide Political Success
19 states plus DC have enacted these laws with zero successful repeals and zero successful court challenges. Includes bipartisan support in Delaware (17-1 Senate vote), Utah (signed by Republican Governor Jon Huntsman Jr.), and Vermont (93% Senate approval).
Sources: National Immigration Law Center comprehensive state tracking; National Conference of State Legislatures legislative database
PROVEN ECONOMIC BENEFITS
$127M
Annual savings to Colorado families from lower insurance costs (2.2x higher than projected)
Source: Colorado Fiscal Institute 10-year analysis
25,223
New licensed drivers in Minnesota's first year of implementation
Source: Minnesota Department of Public Safety 2023-2024
$360M
Insurance company revenue in Colorado (3.5x higher than projected)
Source: Colorado Fiscal Institute
42
Massachusetts police chiefs who publicly supported their state's law
Source: MA Driving Families Forward coalition
Pennsylvania Driver Savings
$224.1 MillionEstimated annual savings for ALL Pennsylvania drivers when implementing Driver's Licenses for All
Peer-reviewed study finding (2009 dollars):
Restricting license access costs $17.22 per driver per year
Adjusted for inflation (2009 to 2025):
$17.22 × 1.42 = $24.45 per driver per year (2025 dollars)
Pennsylvania total calculation:
$24.45 × 9,165,000 PA licensed drivers = $224,084,250 annual savings
Conservative estimate (original 2009 dollars):
$17.22 × 9,165,000 = $157.8 million annual savings
How we calculated this: A 2015 peer-reviewed study in the Southern Economic Journal analyzed insurance costs across multiple states and found that restricting driver's license access raises insurance premiums by $17.22 per driver annually (in 2009 dollars). We adjusted this figure for 42% cumulative inflation from 2009 to 2025 using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index, resulting in $24.45 per driver. Multiplying by Pennsylvania's 9.165 million licensed drivers yields $224 million in total annual savings.
Sources:
• Study: Cáceres & Jameson, "The Effects on Insurance Costs of Restricting Undocumented Immigrants' Access to Driver Licenses," Southern Economic Journal 81(4), 2015
• PA driver count: Federal Highway Administration 2025 licensed driver data
• Inflation: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Calculator
Sources:
• Study: Cáceres & Jameson, "The Effects on Insurance Costs of Restricting Undocumented Immigrants' Access to Driver Licenses," Southern Economic Journal 81(4), 2015
• PA driver count: Federal Highway Administration 2025 licensed driver data
• Inflation: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Calculator
PENNSYLVANIA IMPACT
Population Data
- 150,000+ undocumented workers across all PA industries
- 194,647 people in mixed-status families (84,837 U.S. citizens)
- 85,000 U.S. citizen children with undocumented parents
- 78% prime working age (25-54 years old)
- 76% high school diploma or higher
Sources: Migration Policy Institute Pennsylvania demographic profile; Pew Research Center state-level analysis; American Immigration Council Pennsylvania data
Economic Contributions
- $1.2 billion annually in Federal, state and local taxes from PA immigrant community
- $13 million in new revenue projected from HB 1518 implementation (first 3 years)
- $647 million in state taxes paid annually by Pennsylvania immigrants
Sources: American Immigration Council Pennsylvania economic impact analysis; Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy state tax contribution data; Pennsylvania Fiscal Note for HB 1518
Critical Industries
- Agriculture: ~30,000 workers producing food for Pennsylvania families
- Construction: 13% of construction workforce nationally
- Healthcare: Home health aides caring for Pennsylvania's aging population
- Manufacturing: 10% of Pennsylvania's manufacturing workforce
- Service Industry: 11% of restaurant and hospitality workers
Sources: Migration Policy Institute industry-specific workforce analysis; Pew Research Center occupational data by immigration status
PUBLIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
How This Makes Roads Safer
- More trained and tested drivers — All applicants must pass written and road tests
- Increased insurance coverage — More insured drivers means fewer hit-and-runs
- Better community-police relations — Families can interact with law enforcement without fear
- Law enforcement support — 42 Massachusetts police chiefs publicly endorsed their law
Sources: Governing Magazine, "Drivers Licenses for All Make Roads Safer for Us All"; Massachusetts Driving Families Forward coalition documentation
Insurance Impact Data
- New Mexico: Uninsured rate dropped 33% → 9.1% (24-point reduction after law implementation)
- Utah: Uninsured rate dropped 28% → 8% (20-point reduction)
- Connecticut: 1,200 fewer hit-and-run crashes per year since law took effect
- Colorado: $360 million in new insurance revenue, far exceeding $102 million projection
How these numbers were calculated: Insurance Research Council conducts annual surveys of uninsured motorist rates by state. Comparing pre-implementation rates to current rates shows the specific percentage point reductions. Connecticut DMV tracks hit-and-run crashes annually and published comparative analysis. Colorado Fiscal Institute conducted 10-year retrospective comparing actual implementation results to original fiscal projections.
Sources: Insurance Research Council via Insurance Information Institute; Connecticut DMV crash statistics; Colorado Fiscal Institute 10-year analysis; Utah State Audit report
Sources: Insurance Research Council via Insurance Information Institute; Connecticut DMV crash statistics; Colorado Fiscal Institute 10-year analysis; Utah State Audit report
POLITICAL VIABILITY & BIPARTISAN SUPPORT
Nationwide Success Record
- 19 states plus DC have enacted similar laws
- Zero successful repeals — No state has reversed course
- Zero successful court challenges — All laws have withstood legal scrutiny
- Bipartisan support documented in Delaware, Utah, Vermont
Sources: National Immigration Law Center comprehensive state-by-state policy tracker (updated August 2025); National Conference of State Legislatures legislative action database
Electoral Safety
- Massachusetts referendum: 53.6% voted to uphold law despite Republican-led repeal effort (Nov 2022)
- No documented electoral losses for legislators supporting these policies in any state
- Law enforcement endorsement documented in Massachusetts, New Mexico, other states
Sources: Massachusetts Secretary of State official 2022 election results for Question 4; Ballotpedia electoral outcome tracking for legislators voting on these policies
States with Driver's License Access for All Residents
California (2015), Colorado (2014), Connecticut (2015), Delaware (2015), District of Columbia (2014), Hawaii (2016), Illinois (2013), Maryland (2013), Massachusetts (2022), Minnesota (2023), Nevada (2013), New Jersey (2021), New Mexico (2003), New York (2019), Oregon (2019), Rhode Island (2013), Utah (2005), Vermont (2014), Virginia (2021), Washington (2023)
Source: National Immigration Law Center state policy tracker, updated August 2025
NEXT STEPS FOR LEGISLATORS
- Co-sponsor HB 1518 in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Contact House Leadership to prioritize HB 1518 for committee hearings and floor vote
- Contact Governor Shapiro to allow his departments to publicly support the bill and initiative
- Join the Welcoming PA Caucus in signing a letter of support