CHICAGO — Today, Governor Phil Murphy signed A3518 into law, authorizing the use of mobile ID in New Jersey. With this legislation, the Garden State joins a growing number of states modernizing the way residents can verify their identity. The bill represents a critical step forward in using technology to create more responsive and secure public services.

A3518 directs New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission to launch a mobile version of the state driver’s license or non-driver ID – a secure, digital ID that lives on a resident’s smartphone. Like a mobile boarding pass, mobile ID can be used to verify identity in daily transactions, including airport security, and accessing services. Responsive Gov filed a letter of support for the bill earlier this year, and worked to encourage New Jersey to adopt a program that reflects national best practices in privacy, security, and accessibility.

“This is what good government looks like – using low-cost, high-impact tools to meet people where they are,” said Sam Oliker-Friedland, executive director of the Institute for Responsive Government. “We applaud Governor Murphy and the New Jersey Legislature for taking a forward-thinking approach to modernization, privacy, and access.”

Mobile IDs offer significant advantages over physical cards: They’re protected by biometric authentication (like fingerprint or facial recognition), can be updated in real time without requiring a trip to the MVC, and allow residents to share only the information needed for a given transaction – like confirming age without revealing a full address.

“This is about more than digitizing a piece of plastic – it’s about showing people that government can work better, faster, and more securely,” said Oliker-Friedland. “Mobile ID gives us a more convenient, more cost-effective option, and New Jersey is setting the pace for other states to follow.”

New Jersey joins a growing number of states, including Colorado, Maryland, Arizona, and Georgia, that have already launched or authorized mobile ID programs. Implementation in many states has been low-cost, with some states absorbing costs within existing DMV budgets. Over time, mobile ID can create savings because it reduces the costs of printing and mailing physical IDs.

To speak with Sam Oliker-Friedland or other Responsive Gov policy experts about the merits of mobile ID, please contact dan@responsivegov.org. 

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The Institute for Responsive Government is a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to ensuring state and federal governments work effectively for the very people they serve. The Institute for Responsive Government provides data, research, and expertise to elected officials in order to find practical policy solutions that make government systems more efficient, accessible, and responsive.