Washington (CNN) Virginia's Democratic-controlled Senate has passed legislation that would grant temporary driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.

The measure, SB 34 , which passed on a near-party-line vote of 22-18, would allow taxpaying Virginians who can prove their identities and that they know how to drive to obtain one-year driver's permits. It's the latest progressive action taken by Democrats, who took over both chambers of Virginia's Legislature last month and have since passed bills ranging from gun restrictions to ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment

Current Virginia law requires those applying for licenses to provide proof of "legal presence" to show they are authorized to be in the country.

Under the Drivers Privilege Cards program, individuals would have to pass written and road tests and maintain insurance. The bill now heads to the House of Delegates. If signed into law by Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, who has previously expressed support for such a measure, it would go into effect on January 1, 2021.

The bill's sponsor, Democratic state Sen. Scott Surovell, has worked on passing such a measure since 2016. Following the Senate's vote on Tuesday, he called the legislation a "public safety and quality of life bill."

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