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HF4832

Survivor support special license plates established, and money appropriated.
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)

Related bill: SF4482

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

  • Establish a new survivor support special license plate to raise funds for crime victims by requiring a charitable contribution as part of obtaining and renewing the plate.

Main Provisions

  • Issuance of plates

    • The commissioner must issue survivor support plates (or a single motorcycle plate) to a person who is the registered owner of a passenger automobile, recreational vehicle, one-ton pickup, truck, or motorcycle.
    • The owner must: pay the standard special-plate fee, pay the required registration tax, pay the fees required under this chapter, and contribute at least $30 initially and at least $30 each year to the crime victims account (established in section 611A.612).
    • The owner must also comply with all applicable laws and rules for vehicle registration and driver licensing.

  • Design

    • The commissioner must choose a plate design after consulting with the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Violence Free Minnesota, and other groups identified by the commissioner.

  • No refunds

    • Contributions to the crime victims account under this program are not refundable.

  • Plate transfers

    • Plates issued under this program may be transferred to another motor vehicle (with a $5 transfer fee) if the new vehicle qualifies and is registered to the same person who originally received the plates.

  • Contribution and fees credited

    • The contributed amounts are deposited into the crime victims account (section 611A.612). An amount is appropriated from that account to cover the department’s costs to administer the account.

  • Record-keeping

    • The commissioner must keep a record of how many plates are issued under this program.

  • Exemption

    • Plates issued under this program are not subject to a specified provision in section 168.1293(2), which relates to certain restrictions or conditions on plates.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Creates a new set of survivor support special license plates under a new provision (168.1257), tying plate ownership to annual charitable contributions to the crime victims account.
  • Directs the funds from the program to support crime victims (through the crime victims account in 611A.612) and requires administrative costs to be covered from those funds.
  • Establishes a mandatory design-consultation process with victim-support organizations to determine the plate’s appearance.
  • Introduces a transfer option and a modest transfer fee to allow plates to move with ownership, while keeping the vehicle eligibility requirements intact.
  • Adds nonrefundable contributions as part of the plate issuance and renewal process.

How It Affects People

  • Vehicle owners who want the survivor support plate must agree to contribute to crime victims services each year, in addition to normal plate and registration fees.
  • The program aims to provide ongoing funding to support crime victims and sexual assault survivors through the dedicated crime victims account.

Relevant Terms - survivor support plates - special license plates - crime victims account - 611A.612 - Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault - Violence Free Minnesota - registration tax - plate design - plate issuance - plate transfer - nonrefundable contributions - vehicle registration fees - damage to existing law / exemptions under 168.1293(2)

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
April 07, 2026HouseActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toTransportation Finance and Policy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Reference to Minnesota Statutes chapter 168, governing motor vehicle registration and related plates.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "168",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill text references Notwithstanding section 168.12 subdivision 1 in connection with plate transfers and eligibility.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "168.12",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill requires payment of the registration tax as provided in section 168.013.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "168.013",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Contributions to the crime victims account are referenced in section 611A.612.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "611A.612",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill states that certain special plates are not subject to section 168.1293 subdivision 2.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "168.1293",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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