HF341

HF341 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Minimum fines and penalty enhancement for violations of driving without a valid license authorization

Related bill: SF341

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to enhance public safety by increasing penalties for individuals who repeatedly drive without a valid license. The bill seeks to deter such offenses by establishing minimum fines and categorizing certain offenses as gross misdemeanors.

Main Provisions

Misdemeanor Violations: The bill states that individuals are guilty of a misdemeanor if they drive after their license has been suspended, revoked, canceled, or if they are disqualified from holding a commercial driver’s license.
Gross Misdemeanor Violations: The bill enhances penalties to a gross misdemeanor in cases where:
- An individual’s license is canceled or denied under specific circumstances.
- A repeat offense is committed within ten years of two prior convictions.
- The unlicensed driving results in substantial bodily harm or death.
Responsibility for Prosecution: The bill clarifies that the jurisdictional attorney responsible for prosecuting misdemeanor violations is also responsible for prosecuting gross misdemeanor violations under this section.
Notice of License Status: The bill provides guidelines for sufficient notice regarding the suspension, revocation, cancellation, or disqualification of a driver’s license. Notice is considered sufficient if personally served, mailed, or if the individual was previously informed of the potential for license restrictions.

Significant Changes

The bill introduces gross misdemeanor charges for repeat offenders and those causing serious harm while driving without a valid license.
Prosecution responsibilities are clearly defined for gross misdemeanors.
The bill specifies how legal notice of a license's status is to be delivered to drivers.

Relevant Terms

driving without a valid license, penalties, minimum fines, misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, suspension, revocation, cancellation, disqualification, public safety, prosecutor responsibilities, notice requirements

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file
1st Engrossment PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
April 06, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Received from House
February 12, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading, referred to	Public Safety Finance and Policy
April 06, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading
February 18, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Authors added
April 06, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Referred to	Judiciary and Public Safety
February 19, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Committee report, to adopt and re-refer to	Transportation Finance and Policy
February 25, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Author added
March 19, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Committee report, to adopt
March 19, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Second reading
March 23, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Author added
March 31, 2025	House	Floor	Action	House rule 1.21, placed on Calendar for the Day
April 02, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Amended
April 02, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Third reading as amended
April 02, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Bill was passed as amended

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Enhances penalties and establishes minimum fines for repeat violations of driving without a valid license.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarified conditions under which driving after suspension is considered a misdemeanor."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "171.24",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Clarifies gross misdemeanor violations related to driving with canceled or denied licenses.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "171.04",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Defines terms related to causes of collisions resulting in substantial bodily harm.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "609.02",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 7a"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Included as part of conditions leading to gross misdemeanor classification.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "169.89",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 5"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Referenced for conditions leading to gross misdemeanor classification.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "169A.52",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Referenced for conditions leading to gross misdemeanor classification.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "169A.54",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Referenced in context of license or driving privilege violations.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "171.05",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2b"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Referenced for conditions leading to suspension or disqualification.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "171.13",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 4"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Sets conditions under which licenses may be revoked or suspended.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "171.17",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Referenced for disqualification and suspension conditions.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "171.177",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Sets out conditions for driver license revocation or suspension.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "171.18",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Discusses general provisions regarding driving privileges.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "171.32",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Relates to juvenile traffic offenses and disqualifications.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "260B.225",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 9"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Included in the list of violations leading to harsher penalties.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "169.13",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Included in the list of violations leading to harsher penalties.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "169.21",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Included in the list of violations leading to harsher penalties.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "169.444",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Addresses conditions related to homicide offenses connected with driving violations.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "609.19",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Details penalties for fleeing peace officers in motor vehicles.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "609.487",
    "subdivision": "subdivisions 3 to 5"
  }
]