Bill · S. 5413· Senate(119-S-5413)
Red Light Act
- Introduced
- 9/16/2026
- Last activity
- 9/16/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Sponsored by
- Jon Husted
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Red Light Act. It aims to withhold federal highway funds from states that give driver's licenses or identification cards to aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States. Starting on October 1, 2026, the Secretary of Transportation must withhold 100 percent of certain apportioned funds from any noncompliant state. If a state stops being noncompliant before the end of the fiscal year, the withheld funds will be released to them. Otherwise, those withheld funds will be redistributed to states that are not noncompliant.
Yes
Does this tighten control of the border?+3
The bill penalizes states that provide driver's licenses to unauthorized immigrants, thereby discouraging policies favorable to undocumented individuals.
The opposite· 3 of 5
Would immigrants be better off under this?-7
The bill targets immigrants unlawfully present in the United States by penalizing states that provide them with driver's licenses or identification cards.
Does this repair or build roads and bridges?-6
The bill withholds 100 percent of federal highway funding from states that issue driver's licenses to unauthorized immigrants, severely reducing money for transportation projects in those states.
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-5
The legislation penalizes states for exercising their authority to issue driver's licenses according to their own state laws and policies.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- States that do not provide driver's licenses or identification cards to unlawfully present aliens could receive a redistribution of withheld funds from noncompliant states, as outlined in Section 2 adding Section 180(d). This means compliant states might get extra money for their federal highway funding apportionments.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- States that have a law or policy allowing them to provide driver's licenses or identification cards to aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States will have 100 percent of their federal highway funds withheld under Section 2 adding Section 180(b). This could lead to a severe lack of money for important highway and transportation projects in those states.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Immigrants-7Good For Urban Residents-3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Roads And Bridges-6
- Governance And Ideology
- Increase States Rights-5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Border Security+3Improves Pathway To Citizenship-4
- 9/16/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Bernie MorenoRepublican · Ohio