Purpose

• Establishes Minnesota Main Streets special license plates and a dedicated funding mechanism to support the Minnesota Main Streets program. The design and funding flow are outlined, with money directed through a special Minnesota Main Streets account.

Main provisions and what the bill seeks to accomplish

• Issuance of plates

  • The commissioner may issue Minnesota Main Streets special plates, or a single motorcycle plate, to the registered owner of eligible vehicles: passenger automobile, noncommercial one-ton pickup truck, motorcycle, or recreational vehicle.
  • Applicants must pay the applicable plate fee (as set in section 168.12 subdivision 5), pay the registration tax (section 168.013), and contribute at least $30 annually to the Minnesota Main Streets account.
  • Applicants must comply with all registration and driver licensing rules.

• Plate design

  • The plate design must include the phrase “Legendary Landmarks,” chosen with input from the commissioner of employment and economic development to reflect Minnesota’s historic sites, commercial districts, and diverse communities.

• Plate transfer

  • Special plates may be transferred to another qualifying vehicle if the new vehicle is registered to the same individual and meets the eligibility in subdivision 1.
  • A transfer fee of $5 applies.

• Exemption

  • Plates issued under this section are exempt from the rules in section 168.1293, subdivision 2 (some existing plate-related restrictions do not apply to these plates).

• Contributions and appropriation

  • The annual $30 per-plate contribution (from subdivision 1, clause 4) must be deposited in the Minnesota Main Streets account, created in the special revenue fund.
  • Money in this account is annually appropriated to the commissioner of public safety. The first use is to cover the annual administrative cost of the account, with the remainder distributed to Rethos exclusively for the Minnesota Main Streets program.

• Administration and program linkage

  • The Minnesota Main Streets account and related funding are tied to the Minnesota Main Streets program, with program funds directed to Rethos for its activities.

Significant changes to existing law

• Creates a new Minnesota Main Streets license plate program and a dedicated funding stream.
• Establishes a new account (Minnesota Main Streets account in the special revenue fund) and a funding pipeline to a nonprofit organization (Rethos) for the Minnesota Main Streets program.
• Requires collaboration with the commissioner of employment and economic development for plate design.
• Provides plate-transfer rules and a specific exemption from a particular existing statute (168.1293, subdivision 2).

What this means in practical terms

• Vehicle owners who want the specialty plate must meet eligibility, pay license plate fees, pay registration taxes, and contribute at least $30 annually to support the program.
• The program design emphasizes “Legendary Landmarks” to highlight Minnesota’s historic and community landmarks.
• Revenue collected is split: cover administration costs first, with the remainder funding the Minnesota Main Streets program through Rethos.

Relevant Terms - Minnesota Main Streets plates - Legendary Landmarks - Minnesota Main Streets account - special revenue fund - Rethos - commissioner of public safety - commissioner of employment and economic development - section 168.12 subdivision 5 - section 168.013 - plate transfer fee - Minnesota Main Streets program - eligible vehicles: passenger automobile, noncommercial one-ton pickup truck, motorcycle, recreational vehicle - exemption from section 168.1293 subdivision 2