Starting next week, certain state ID cards will no longer be accepted at federal facilities. Five states, along with the territory of American Samoa, aren't compliant with the 2005 "Real ID" law and haven't received an extension from the Department of Homeland Security. On Sunday, January 10, a "grace period" will end and enforcement of the Real ID rules will begin, DHS officials told reporters on a press call today.

The bigger concern for many citizens is whether ID cards from non-compliant states will be accepted for air travel. On that point, there's some breathing room. DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement today that the law will be enforced with regard to air travel beginning on January 18, 2018. At that time, travelers with ID cards from states that don't meet the law's requirements "must present an alternative form of identification acceptable to the Transportation Security Administration in order to board a commercial domestic flight."

Johnson's statement also says that on October 1, 2020, every air traveler will need a Real ID-compliant license or another acceptable form of ID, such as a passport. (That's essentially the same rule as the 2018 deadline, but there's no talk of states still having "extensions" in 2020.)

There was buzz last month that DHS could impose a deadline on air travel that would be as short as 120 days. So the announcement of a 2018 enforcement date will likely calm the nerves of travelers and lawmakers in the non-compliant states that have no extension. Those states are Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Washington, and the territory of American Samoa. Currently, 23 states are compliant with Real ID requirements, and 27 states and territories have been granted extensions because they are demonstrating "steps towards compliance."

The Real ID Act was recommended by the 9/11 Commission in 2004 and became law in 2005. It makes ID issuing cards stricter in three regards. First, issuers of ID cards must take steps to ensure the information on the cards is true; second, the card itself must have certain security features; and third, certain security measures must be taken with regard to the overall "system" of issuing cards (for instance, background checks on DMV workers).

Starting next week, IDs from the five non-compliant, no-extension states won't be valid for entering military bases, nuclear power plants, or federal facilities that require an ID check. So if your ID is non-compliant, you won't get turned away from the Smithsonian, but you might get turned away from a federal courthouse.

On a call with reporters today, a senior DHS official said that extensions are only granted when the states have a "path towards compliance." Two states may need to pass legislation to get on DHS' desired "path"—Missouri and Minnesota both passed laws in 2009 preventing state officials from complying with the act.

Now, elected officials in both states appear ready to make the changes that the feds desire. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, who signed that state's 2009 anti-Real ID law, called yesterday for state law to be changed "in accordance with the federal regulations," according to the Southeast Missourian. In Minnesota, Governor Mark Dayton says he's ready to call a special session of the legislature in order to update the law.

"I urge state government leaders to take immediate action to comply with the REAL ID Act, to ensure the continued ability of their residents to fly unimpeded," Johnson said in closing. "It is time to move toward final compliance with this law."