HF2975

HF2975 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Work zone safety and work zone driving rules required as driver education and driver examination subjects, driver's manual required to include work zone safety information, rulemaking authorized, and money appropriated.

Related bill: SF1903

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to enhance the education and awareness of safe driving practices in construction and maintenance work zones. The bill aims to ensure drivers are well-informed about safety measures and rules when driving through these areas, which are often critical for both drivers' and road workers' safety.

Main Provisions

Inclusion in Driver Education:
- The bill mandates that all driver education programs—whether offered by public schools, private schools, or commercial driver training schools—include a dedicated section on work zone safety.
- This section will cover safe driving practices such as maintaining safe speeds, understanding road worker safety, duties of drivers in work zones, and the dangers of distracted driving in these areas.
Driver's Manual Update:
- It requires updates to the driver's manual used for driver education and training programs, ensuring it includes comprehensive information about work zone safety.
Driver Examination:
- Driver license examinations will include questions and scenarios specifically related to work zone driving rules to ensure new drivers are tested on this essential information.
Rulemaking Authority:
- The bill grants the commissioner the authority to develop and implement rules that enforce the mandatory inclusion of work zone safety in driver education curricula.
Appropriation of Funds:
- Appropriating necessary funds to support the implementation of these requirements in driver education and training programs.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 by adding new subdivisions to several sections, emphasizing the importance of including work zone safety in driver education and licensing processes.
It broadens the scope of driver education to include not only basic driving rules but also specific scenarios related to road construction and maintenance areas, integrating these topics into the official state's driver training and testing framework.

Relevant Terms

work zone safety, driver education, distracted driving, road construction worker safety, traffic control devices, safe driving speeds, driver examination, driver's manual, rulemaking, Minnesota transportation law.

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
March 31, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading, referred to	Transportation Finance and Policy

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "The bill references the definition of a work zone as given in section 169.011, subdivision 95.",
      "modified": [
        ""
      ]
    },
    "citation": "169.011",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 95"
  }
]