Arizona Senate approves proposed prohibition on REAL ID standards

The Arizona Senate approved a bill Tuesday that would prohibit Arizona's participation in new federal security standards program for driver's licenses.

The 21-7 vote sends the proposal to the House, which had approved a milder version of the bill in March but will now consider a key change made by the Senate.

The House version would prohibit the state's participation in the "Real ID" program without the approval of the Legislature. The Senate made it a flat prohibition that doesn't require the Legislature's approval.

The Real ID law requires all states to bring their driver's licenses under a national standard and to link their record-keeping systems. It draws criticism because of the costs. Other criticism centers on the federal mandate and whether it'd be effective.