Leman appointed to House Select Committee

AUSTIN - State Representative Ben Leman was recently appointed to the newly created House Select Committee on Driver’s License Issuance and Renewal. On Dec. 10. Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives created the committee to examine opportunities to expedite the driver’s license renewal process, with a focus on long wait times, physician waivers for eye exams, redundant fingerprinting, and opportunities to complete the renewal online. The committee is also tasked to review the feasibility of permanently transferring the licensing programs from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Over the years wait times for the renewal or issuance of driver’s licenses have fluctuated but as the state continues to grow, the wait times have become excruciatingly long in some places. The creation of the House Select Committee on Driver’s License Issuance and Renewal will shed light to this issue and establish recommendations to resolve it going forward.

“I am honored to have been appointed to the Select Committee on Driver’s License Issuance and Renewal,” stated Leman. “The issues that surround the driver’s license issuance and renewal process have become a problem that affects all Texans. It is not just a rural vs urban issue, it is an issue all over the state and we must find a way to improve these processes. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to come up with tangible solutions we can act on for the 87th Legislative Session.”

Leman was originally sworn into office as State Representative of House District 13 on May 31, 2018 and then re-elected November of that same year. He is currently seeking re-election for a second full term unopposed. In addition to the newly House Select Committee on Driver’s License Issuance and Renewal, Rep. Leman currently serves on the House Committee on Transportation, Land and Resource Management Committee, and Redistricting Committee. House District 13 is comprised of Austin, Burleson, Colorado, Fayette, Grimes, Lavaca, and Washington counties.