The Minnesota Department of Public Safety could soon begin to study ways to bring the state into compliance with the federal Real ID law.

The Minnesota Senate overwhelmingly approved a measure Monday — the first step needed to eventually follow the federal mandate — that would end the ban on the Department of Public Safety's participation in Real ID matters.

The bill, authored by Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, doesn't call for implementation of the new ID standards, but instead would allow the state to study possible implementation and the associated costs. DPS will complete a report by the end of March before lawmakers can begin to discuss application of Real ID in Minnesota. The decade-old federal law was passed to improve the security of state ID cards as a way to secure the border and prevent terrorism.

"Taking a two-step process is vitally important," said Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, who was a chief author of the 2009 law that prohibited Minnesota from complying with the law. "This bill only allows us from an administrative standpoint to study Real ID and how it fits into Minnesota's rule-making and state stature authority."

Minnesota, which was granted a two-year reprieve from federal enforcement of the law earlier this year, is among five states that aren't in compliance or haven't been given a waiver.

Already, those with noncompliant identification have been barred from entering places like military bases and nuclear power plants.

Starting in 2018, the beefed-up IDs will be required to fly on commercial airlines, unless another federally approved form of ID, like a passport, is presented.

"I do think it is in the best interest of national security and in the best interest of the people we represent that we comply with Real ID," said Sen. Terri Bonoff, DFL-Minnetonka, in a floor speech.

Still, Limmer and some other lawmakers have concerns about privacy, unnecessary data collection, cost and federal overreach.

"What we are losing is another page or two of our personal privacy protection and the constitutional right to be anonymous in our society," Limmer said.

The House Ways and Means Committee was scheduled to hear the bill Monday night.

Christopher Aadland • 651-925-5043