Texas does not currently issue a digital driver’s license. As of 2026, no state-run mobile ID program exists, and you still need to carry your physical Texas license for traffic stops, airport security, voting, age verification, and anything else that calls for state identification. Several bills have been filed to change that, but none has been signed into law.
Where the Legislation Stands
Two serious attempts have moved through the Capitol so far. House Bill 71, filed in the 88th Legislature in 2023, would have directed the Department of Public Safety to stand up a digital identification program by February 1, 2025.1Texas Legislature Online. Texas 88(R) HB 71 – House Committee Report Version – Bill Text It passed the House and then stalled in a Senate committee.
The next attempt was House Bill 3426 in the 89th session. It went further than HB 71, requiring DPS to issue digital versions of driver’s licenses, commercial driver’s licenses, and personal identification certificates rather than merely authorizing a program.2Texas Legislature Online. Texas HB 3426 – Introduced Version The House passed HB 3426 in May 2025, but the bill had not been signed into law by its proposed September 1, 2025 effective date. The pattern has been House passage followed by Senate inaction.
TxT Is Not a Digital ID
The Texas by Texas platform causes some confusion here. TxT lets you renew or replace your driver’s license, renew vehicle registration, change your address, and upgrade your license online.3Texas.gov. Texas by Texas It does not produce a credential you can show at a traffic stop or use as identification. It handles paperwork; it does not replace the card in your wallet.
What You Still Need Your Physical License For
Under Texas Transportation Code Section 521.025, anyone operating a motor vehicle must carry a valid driver’s license and present it to a peace officer on request. Nothing on your phone currently satisfies that requirement.
Voting is a hard boundary too. Texas voter ID law requires one of seven specific physical photo IDs, including a DPS-issued driver’s license or personal ID card, a U.S. passport, a military ID, or a handgun license.4VoteTexas.gov. Texas Voter ID Requirements No digital version qualifies, and the proposed HB 3426 explicitly excluded digital identification from voting use.2Texas Legislature Online. Texas HB 3426 – Introduced Version
Air travel is the other big one. The TSA now accepts digital IDs at more than 250 airports, but only from participating states, and Texas is not among them.5Transportation Security Administration. Digital Identity and Facial Comparison Technology Roughly 21 states and Puerto Rico participate.6Transportation Security Administration. Participating States and Eligible Digital IDs For a Texan flying domestically, that means a physical ID at the checkpoint. And since REAL ID enforcement began on May 7, 2025, that physical ID needs the REAL ID star in the upper right corner, or you’ll need a passport or another compliant document.7Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID The TSA advises all passengers to carry an acceptable physical ID even in states where digital versions work.
If You Have a Digital ID From Another State
Interstate recognition is still inconsistent. A digital credential issued by another state may not be accepted by Texas law enforcement or Texas businesses. If you’re visiting Texas from a state that offers a mobile ID, do not rely on it as your only form of identification. Bring the physical card.
What Would Change if a Bill Passes
The proposed legislation gives a fair preview of what a Texas digital license would look like. HB 3426’s language would treat digital identification the same as a physical license for most purposes, including traffic stops and age-restricted purchases, with voting carved out.2Texas Legislature Online. Texas HB 3426 – Introduced Version
The bill also addresses the concern most people raise about handing a phone to an officer. Presenting your digital ID on a wireless device would not count as consent for the officer or anyone else to access any other contents of the device. The officer sees the ID and nothing else.8Texas Legislature Online. Texas 89(R) HB 3426 – Introduced Version – Bill Text
A signed bill would not mean an instant rollout. HB 3426 built in authority for DPS to delay any portion of the program that requires federal waiver or authorization until that clearance comes through.2Texas Legislature Online. Texas HB 3426 – Introduced Version HB 71’s February 2025 target already came and went without a program. Even in states with active mobile IDs, physical credentials continue to be issued to every license holder, and any Texas program would work the same way: the digital version alongside the card, not instead of it.
For official news on any future launch, watch the DPS site and the TxT platform rather than third-party announcements. Until then, the card in your wallet is the only Texas ID that counts.