JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri lawmakers denounced a federal movement toward national driver’s licenses Wednesday.

The Senate unanimously voted to bar the Missouri Department of Revenue from ever complying with the Federal Real ID Act of 2005, which calls on states to adopt standardized driver’s license requirements by December.

Wednesday evening’s 32-0 vote sends the bill to Gov. Jay Nixon’s desk to sign into law. The House already backed the bill in April, 83-69.

“It’s a pretty strong statement that the federal government is going to have to back off,” said Rep. Jim Guest. The King City Republican for three years has led a nationwide effort to convince states to reject Real ID, citing states’ rights’ violations and privacy concerns.

The General Assembly in 2007 approved a resolution calling on Congress for a repeal, but no repeal came.

Missouri joined 12 other states Wednesday in passing legislation that takes them out of the picture in December 2011, the effective date for Real ID. That’s when U.S. citizens wanting to board airplanes or enter certain federal buildings will have to show identification that meets the uniform Real ID requirements set by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“We just do not know the result of states not complying. ... That’s sort of the crux of the matter,” Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, said during debate.

Those in non-compliant states can instead provide a birth certificate or a passport,

Senate Transportation Chairman Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, said the quality and security of Missouri licenses greatly increased in 2005, when tighter rules required drivers to provide birth certificates for new IDs or renewals. The thought of Missourians instead using passports regularly didn’t sit well with him.

“I would hate to see us blow what we’ve accomplished so far,” Mr. Stouffer said.

Mr. Guest and his supporters are banking that enforcement won’t reach that point, however. Sen. Joan Bray, D-St. Louis County, said the federal government likely will stand down once more states refuse to participate.

Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, said he didn’t oppose efforts toward more secure identification, but he called Real ID a “back-door approach” to establish national driver’s licenses, which remains controversial.

“I just question this effort to (violate) the 10th Amendment and try to force the states to do something the federal government lacks the courage to do,” Mr. Nodler said.

Mr. Guest said he expected Mr. Nixon to sign the bill because of its bipartisan support.

“It’s not only a victory for me, but for everyone in the state to not be subject to another unfunded mandate,” he said.

Alyson E. Raletz can be reached at alysonraletz@npgco.com.