Senator Marsden's bill to require driver‑instructor ID placards advanced by subcommittee

Senator Marsden told the subcommittee that Senate Bill 720 would require driving instructors to display a clearly visible identification placard to allow students and parents to confirm the identity and certification of the instructor. He credited Tammy McGee and the Guido Memorial Foundation for bringing the legislation to his attention after the 2019 crash that killed her son, Connor.

Tammy McGee, introduced earlier by the senator as the founder of the Guido Memorial Foundation, testified virtually that the change is "not about paperwork" but "about real time verification." "This placard contains only professional information," she said, adding that it would be displayed only during instruction and would work much like badges worn by teachers or coaches.

The chair called for a motion to report the bill out of the subcommittee; members moved and seconded the motion and the clerk opened and closed the roll. The clerk's announcement in the transcript recorded that the bill "reports on a vote to 9," though the transcript does not capture the full phrasing of the tally. The clerk's announcement indicates the bill was reported by the subcommittee and will proceed for further consideration.

Supporters framed the measure as a transparency and safety requirement intended to prevent students from being picked up by someone other than the certified instructor. The testimony emphasized the bill's limited scope — identification during instruction — and its low administrative burden compared with the safety benefit proponents described.

The subcommittee did not hear in‑person opposition during the meeting. The next procedural step is for the bill to proceed according to the Senate's scheduling rules.