House File 1500 passed 74-52.

ST PAUL, Minn. — A long discussion at the State Capitol over driver's licenses has wrapped up with House lawmakers passing a bill that would allow undocumented Minnesota residents get a license.

This was something they used to be able to do until rules changed under Governor Tim Pawlenty back in 2003.

"If you can pass the test, buy insurance, you can be on the road," Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-46A) said in a news conference on Friday. "That changed 16 years ago. since that time, immigrants in Minnesota have been facing a lot more hardship than otherwise necessary."

The Freedom2Drive coalition has been working to restore the ability for immigrants like Jovita Morales to officially obtain a driver's license. Morales is now one of the leaders for the Minnesota Immigrant Movement. She said she didn't have a driver's license back in 2007 when the 35W bridge collapsed with her children's school bus on it.

"I was forced to make the difficult decision to drive in order to take them to their many medical appointments," Morales said.

Opponents of the bill argued the passing of the bill would incentivize illegal immigration.

"The more benefits we give, the more incentivizing there is to go through a gauntlet that exploits them," Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen (R-18B) said.

Supporters said giving undocumented immigrants a driver's license will make the roads safer for everyone.