Minnesota will have two years to update its driver’s licenses before they become ineligible for airport security, federal Homeland Security officials announced Friday. “Put simply,” House Majority Leader Joyce Peppin, R-Rogers, said of the newly disclosed deadline, “you do not need to worry about Real ID impacting your travel plans for at least the next two years.” Until Friday’s announcement that the federal government would wait until 2018 to implement the new requirements, Minnesota leaders had feared the state’s licenses could become ineligible sometime this year. The uncertainty left many Minnesotans fretting that they would not have proper identification to board airplanes. The Friday announcement relieves pressure on Minnesota lawmakers, who had been considering whether they needed to meet in a special session to immediately adopt Real ID changes. Federal officials said Friday that they had long planned to announce the deadline for compliance this year, but not necessarily enact the deadline for states to comply with federal Real ID requirements. Perhaps confused about the shifting deadlines from the federal government, Minnesota leaders said they believed that sometime this year, the state’s licenses would no longer be accepted at airports. Minnesota is the only state with a law that bars it from adopting or planning to adopt Real ID standards.

Four other states — Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico and Washington — are not yet issuing licenses that meet the federal standards. “The state of Minnesota will continue its efforts to comply with the federal law, in accordance with the guidance provided today,” Gov. Mark Dayton spokesman Matt Swenson said Friday.

Minnesota has until 2018 to update driver’s licenses for air travel. The enforcement of the license standards it requires have been repeatedly delayed or changed.

Wisconsin has issued Real ID-compliant licenses as an option for residents since 2013. It also issues standard licenses. Only about a quarter of that state’s residents have opted for the federally compliant licenses. It cost Wisconsin about $15 million to update its system in accordance with Real ID standards, which are designed to add extra layers of security to state identification, according to Kristina Boardman, deputy administrator at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Federal grants paid for $3.6 million of that. MINNESOTA’S STORY Minnesota does not have any estimates or timelines for how long it would take to implement Real ID standards. That’s because a 2009 law not only bars the state from adopting the standards, it also bars the state’s Public Safety Department from “planning for the implementation” of the standards.

All but one member of the 2009 legislative class voted for the law, at a time when lawmakers were concerned about privacy, federal government overreach and unequal access to identification. At the time, many states similarly rejected the Real ID standards. Since then, all but a handful have worked toward adopting the federally mandated rules. “One by one, states have folded,” said Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove.

Until late last year, Minnesota did little to deal with the looming federal deadline. “All of us weren’t paying attention,” said Rep. Carlos Mariani, DFL-St.

He and Limmer were chief sponsors of the 2009 Real ID law that barred action. In March 2015, Public Safety Commissioner Ramona Dohman asked lawmakers to consider rescinding the gag rule that bars her from planning. But there was no legislative action.

Dayton chief of staff Jaime Tincher said Thursday that federal officials had indicated that once Minnesota repeals that gag law, it would grant the state an extension to deal with a Real ID solution. Last month, the federal government rejected Minnesota’s plea for an extension.

With the announcement of the 2018 deadline, lawmakers and the governor have enough time to work toward a solution, likely without a special session and before Minnesota residents would experience the consequences at airports. Some federal facilities, such as military bases, already require Real ID-compliant identification to enter. “It probably removes the urgency that we need to deal with it in a special session,” said Sen. Scott Dibble, a Minneapolis DFLer who chairs the Senate’s transportation committee. “The sooner we take care of it, the better. Then we have a couple of years to make sure we’re compliant and people have time to transition their licenses as they come up for renewal.” Even after the 2018 deadline passes, passports and enhanced driver’s licenses, now issued by Minnesota for an extra fee, would be acceptable to use at airports. WHAT’S COMING Here’s how the federal Department of Homeland Security outlined the coming deadlines: — July 15, 2016: The Transportation Security Administration will begin Web-based advisories and notifications to travelers.

15, 2016: The TSA will expand outreach at airport checkpoints with signs, handouts and other methods. 22, 2018: Passengers with a driver’s license issued by a state still not compliant with the Real ID Act that has not been granted an extension will need to show an alternative form of acceptable identification for domestic flights.

1, 2020: Every air traveler will need a Real ID- compliant license, or another acceptable form of identification, for domestic air travel. The federal Real ID law was adopted in 2005. The enforcement of the license standards it requires have been repeatedly delayed or changed.

Currently, 23 states and U.S. Territories have adopted license standards to met the requirements; all but five of the rest of the states have received extensions to comply.

David Montgomery contributed to this report, which includes information from the Associated Press. Bebe Buell Images more. Follow Rachel E.