HF469

Purpose

• Establish a state trail bicycle pass requirement for people aged 16 and older when riding a bicycle on state trails where bicycle use is allowed.
• Create a funding mechanism to maintain and repair state trails and to support the department’s licensing system.
• Expand the authority to issue citations for a broad range of state park and trail rules to help enforce the new and existing rules.

Key provisions

• Pass requirement
  • Any person 16+ riding a bicycle on a state trail must carry a valid state trail bicycle pass.
  • The pass must be available for inspection by peace officers, conservation officers, or designated department employees.
• Issuing and administration
  • The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) may appoint license agents to issue and sell passes; agents must follow rules about accounting and handling of passes.
  • Passes must include necessary applicant information as determined by the commissioner.
  • An issuing fee of $1 per pass is charged, retained by the seller, and used to support the licensing system.
• Pass types and pricing
  • Annual pass: $25, valid for one year from the purchase date.
  • Daily pass: $5, valid only for the date shown on the pass.
• Duplicates
  • Duplicates are available if a pass is lost or destroyed, under the process in use for other licenses.
  • Duplicate pass fee: $2 plus an issuing fee of $0.50.
• State trail bicycle account
  • A new State Trail Bicycle Account is created in the natural resources fund.
  • Money from pass sales and interest goes into this account.
  • Except for issuing fees, funds are appropriated to the commissioner to maintain and repair state trails where bicycle use is permitted.
  • Issuing fees for passes sold by the commissioner are deposited into the state trails account to support the electronic licensing system.
• Definitions
  • “Bicycle” follows the definition in state law (section 169.011, subdivision 4).
• Enforcement and related rulemaking
  • The bill adds citation authority for a wide range of park and trail rules (hours of operation, restricted areas, noise, fireworks, environmental protections, fires, pets, picnicking, camping, nonmotorized uses, trail construction, private property, hunting restrictions, OHVs, and more).
  • This includes enforcement related to state parks, state forests, and designated areas such as the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest.

How it changes existing law

• Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 84.0835, subdivision 3 to explicitly authorize citations for violations of numerous rules governing state parks and trails, expanding enforcement capabilities.
• Creates and codifies the state trail bicycle pass program and related funding mechanism, linking pass revenue to trail maintenance and the licensing system.

Financial and administrative impact

• Revenue stream for trail maintenance: Pass sales (annual and daily) fund maintenance and repair of state trails where bicycle use is permitted.
• Administrative costs: Issuing and managing passes, plus funding for the electronic licensing system via issuing fees.
• Administrative structure: Delegates issuance to license agents under commissioner oversight, with revenue handled through the state trails account.

Potential practical effects

• Bicycle riders 16+ on state trails will need to obtain and carry a pass, creating a recurring cost for trail users but providing dedicated funding for trail upkeep.
• Increased enforcement capability for a broad set of park and trail regulations could affect behavior and compliance on state trails and parks.
• The program relies on a new funding account and streamlined licensing system, impacting how trail-related expenses are paid and tracked.

Relevant Terms state trail bicycle pass; state trails; annual pass; daily pass; issuing fee; duplicate pass; state trail bicycle account; natural resources fund; license agents; peace officer; conservation officer; electronic licensing system; Minnesota Statutes 2024; section 84.0835; subdivision 3; cross-country ski pass; hours of operation; restricted areas; environmental protection; fires; pets; picnicking; camping; nonmotorized uses; offhighway vehicle; snowmobile; Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest; enforcement; citation authority; 16 years of age.