1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to drivers' licenses; modifying the availability of road skills examinations
1.3 on the Division of Driver and Vehicle Services website; amending Minnesota
1.4 Statutes 2024, section 171.13, subdivision 1.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 171.13, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 Subdivision 1.Examination subjects and locations; provisions for color blindness,
1.8disabled veterans.(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the commissioner must
1.9examine each applicant for a driver's license by such agency as the commissioner directs.
1.10This examination must include:
1.11 (1) a test of the applicant's eyesight, provided that this requirement is met by submission
1.12of a vision examination certificate under section 171.06, subdivision 7;
1.13 (2) a test of the applicant's ability to read and understand highway signs regulating,
1.14warning, and directing traffic;
1.15 (3) a test of the applicant's knowledge of (i) traffic laws; (ii) the effects of alcohol and
1.16drugs on a driver's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely and legally, and of the legal
1.17penalties and financial consequences resulting from violations of laws prohibiting the
1.18operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; (iii) railroad
1.19grade crossing safety; (iv) slow-moving vehicle safety; (v) laws relating to pupil
1.20transportation safety, including the significance of school bus lights, signals, stop arm, and
1.21passing a school bus; (vi) traffic laws related to bicycles; and (vii) the circumstances and
1.22dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning;
1Section 1.
25-03009 as introduced02/04/25 REVISOR KRB/DG
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 1181NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: JASINSKI, Dibble, Johnson Stewart, Howe and Kreun)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading02/10/2025
Referred to Transportation 2.1 (4) an actual demonstration of ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the
2.2operation of a motor vehicle; and
2.3 (5) other physical and mental examinations as the commissioner finds necessary to
2.4determine the applicant's fitness to operate a motor vehicle safely upon the highways.
2.5 (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the commissioner must not deny an application for
2.6a driver's license based on the exclusive grounds that the applicant's eyesight is deficient in
2.7color perception or that the applicant has been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. War veterans
2.8operating motor vehicles especially equipped for disabled persons, if otherwise entitled to
2.9a license, must be granted such license.
2.10 (c) The commissioner must ensure that an applicant may take an exam either in the
2.11county where the applicant resides or in an adjacent county at a reasonably convenient
2.12location. The schedule for each exam station must be posted on the department's website.
2.13Subject to the requirements of paragraph (d), the commissioner must make class D road
2.14skills examination appointments available six months in advance, with at least 50 percent
2.15of projected appointments available to book three months in advance, 75 percent of projected
2.16appointments available to book two months in advance, and 100 percent of projected
2.17appointments available to book one month in advance.
2.18 (d) The commissioner must ensure only qualifying applicants may book a class D road
2.19skills examination appointment earlier than one month in advance. For purposes of this
2.20paragraph, a qualifying applicant means:
2.21 (1) the applicant resides in the same city or zip code where an exam station is located;
2.22or
2.23 (2) the applicant resides in an adjacent city or zip code where an exam station is located.
2.24 (d) (e) The commissioner shall must ensure that an applicant is able to obtain an
2.25appointment for an examination to demonstrate ability under paragraph (a), clause (4),
2.26within 14 days of the applicant's request if, under the applicable statutes and rules of the
2.27commissioner, the applicant is eligible to take the examination.
2.28 (e) (f) The commissioner must provide real-time information on the department's website
2.29about the availability and location of exam appointments. The website must show the next
2.30available exam dates and times for each exam station. The website must also provide an
2.31option for a person to enter an address to see the date and time of the next available exam
2.32at each exam station sorted by distance from the address provided.
2Section 1.
25-03009 as introduced02/04/25 REVISOR KRB/DG 3.1 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 1, 2025, for examinations on or
3.2after that date.
3Section 1.
25-03009 as introduced02/04/25 REVISOR KRB/DG