HF4671

Purpose

• Establish a new special license plate program called "Curl in Minnesota" to support the sport of curling in Minnesota through vehicle-owner contributions.

Main Provisions

• The state commissioner must issue Curl in Minnesota special license plates (or a single motorcycle plate) to eligible applicants who:
  • Are registered owners of certain motor vehicles (passenger automobiles, noncommercial one-ton pickups, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles).
  • Pay the required fees for special plates and any other standard registration fees.
  • Pay the required registration tax.
  • Contribute at least $30 each year to the Minnesota Curling Association account.
  • Comply with all registration and licensing rules.
• The plate design must be created in consultation with the Minnesota Curling Association and include the inscription “Curl in Minnesota.”

Eligibility and Fees

• Eligible vehicles include passenger cars, noncommercial one-ton pickups, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles.
• Applicants must pay the standard fees for special plates (as set in law) plus the annual $30 minimum contribution to support curling.
• Fees and taxes are those required under current motor vehicle and registration law.

Plate Design

• The design must be approved in consultation with the Minnesota Curling Association and feature the inscription “Curl in Minnesota.”

Transfer and Exemptions

• Plate transfers are allowed: with a $5 transfer fee, the plates can be moved to another qualifying vehicle owned by the same person.
• The Curl in Minnesota plates are exempt from a specified other provision (168.1293 subdivision 2).

Funding and Administration

• The $30 annual contribution must be deposited into the Minnesota Curling Association account, established in the special revenue fund.
• Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner of public safety for two purposes:
  • First, to cover the annual administrative costs of the account.
  • Then, the remaining funds are distributed to the Minnesota Curling Association for the maintenance of curling facilities across Minnesota.

Significance and Impact

• Creates a dedicated funding stream to support curling facilities and the sport in Minnesota through a voluntary vehicle registration program.
• Changes the existing licensing landscape by adding a sport-specific plate with a mandatory annual contribution to support curling infrastructure.

Notable Administrative Details

• The program interacts with existing vehicle registration and licensing rules and requires payments of standard fees and taxes as part of the plate issuance.

Relevant Terms - Curl in Minnesota plates - Minnesota Curling Association - special license plates - Minnesota Curling Association account - special revenue fund - commissioner of public safety - registration tax (168.013) - fees for special plates (168.12, subdivision 5) - plate design inscription - plate transfer - exemption (168.1293, subdivision 2) - eligible vehicles: passenger automobile, noncommercial one-ton pickup, motorcycle, recreational vehicle - minimum annual contribution $30 - curling facilities - funding administration and distribution