Report: Real ID Upgrade Will Cost $5 Million

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- It's going to cost the State of Minnesota at least $5 million to issue new high security driver's licenses, according to a new report from the Department of Public Safety.

Until now, Minnesota was one of only four states that have not complied with a federal government requirement to issue the new tamper-proof Real ID licenses, which will soon be required for commercial airline travel.

The Department of Homeland Security deadline for Real IDs is 2018, and Gov. Mark Dayton says Minnesota is working to be ready. He isn't sure, however, if lawmakers will get it done this session.

If the Legislature approves Real ID this year, the new licenses could start getting issued by October.