Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota Senate Bill SF294 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1.1 A bill for an act
2	2	1.2 relating to transportation; modifying availability of driver's license road skills
3	3	1.3 examinations online; modifying fees for cancellation of a road skills examination;
4	4	1.4 amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 171.13, subdivisions 1, 7.
5	5	1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
6	6	1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 171.13, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
7	7	1.7 Subdivision 1.Examination subjects and locations; provisions for color blindness,
8	8	1.8disabled veterans.(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the commissioner must
9	9	1.9examine each applicant for a driver's license by such agency as the commissioner directs.
10	10	1.10This examination must include:
11	11	1.11 (1) a test of the applicant's eyesight, provided that this requirement is met by submission
12	12	1.12of a vision examination certificate under section 171.06, subdivision 7;
13	13	1.13 (2) a test of the applicant's ability to read and understand highway signs regulating,
14	14	1.14warning, and directing traffic;
15	15	1.15 (3) a test of the applicant's knowledge of (i) traffic laws; (ii) the effects of alcohol and
16	16	1.16drugs on a driver's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely and legally, and of the legal
17	17	1.17penalties and financial consequences resulting from violations of laws prohibiting the
18	18	1.18operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; (iii) railroad
19	19	1.19grade crossing safety; (iv) slow-moving vehicle safety; (v) laws relating to pupil
20	20	1.20transportation safety, including the significance of school bus lights, signals, stop arm, and
21	21	1.21passing a school bus; (vi) traffic laws related to bicycles; and (vii) the circumstances and
22	22	1.22dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning;
23	23	1Section 1.
24	24	25-00984 as introduced12/23/24 REVISOR KRB/RC
25	25	SENATE
26	26	STATE OF MINNESOTA
27	27	S.F. No. 294NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
28	28	(SENATE AUTHORS: JASINSKI, Housley, Kreun, Abeler and Dibble)
29	29	OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
30	30	Introduction and first reading01/21/2025
31	31	Referred to Transportation 2.1 (4) an actual demonstration of ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the
32	32	2.2operation of a motor vehicle; and
33	33	2.3 (5) other physical and mental examinations as the commissioner finds necessary to
34	34	2.4determine the applicant's fitness to operate a motor vehicle safely upon the highways.
35	35	2.5 (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the commissioner must not deny an application for
36	36	2.6a driver's license based on the exclusive grounds that the applicant's eyesight is deficient in
37	37	2.7color perception or that the applicant has been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. War veterans
38	38	2.8operating motor vehicles especially equipped for disabled persons, if otherwise entitled to
39	39	2.9a license, must be granted such license.
40	40	2.10 (c) The commissioner must ensure that an applicant may take an exam either in the
41	41	2.11county where the applicant resides or in an adjacent county at a reasonably convenient
42	42	2.12location. The schedule for each exam station must be posted on the department's website.
43	43	2.13 (d) The commissioner shall ensure that an applicant is able to obtain an appointment for
44	44	2.14an examination to demonstrate ability under paragraph (a), clause (4), within 14 days of the
45	45	2.15applicant's request if, under the applicable statutes and rules of the commissioner, the
46	46	2.16applicant is eligible to take the examination.
47	47	2.17 (e) The commissioner must provide real-time information on the department's website
48	48	2.18about the availability and location of exam appointments. The website must show the next
49	49	2.19available exam dates and times for each exam station. The website must also provide an
50	50	2.20option for a person to enter an address to see the date and time of the next available exam
51	51	2.21at each exam station sorted by distance from the address provided. The commissioner must
52	52	2.22make at least 50 percent of projected appointments available to book three months in advance,
53	53	2.2375 percent of projected appointments available to book two months in advance, and 100
54	54	2.24percent of projected appointments available to book one month in advance.
55	55	2.25 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to
56	56	2.26examinations on or after that date.
57	57	2.27 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 171.13, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
58	58	2.28 Subd. 7. Examination fees.(a) A fee of $10 must be paid by an individual to take a
59	59	2.29third and any subsequent knowledge test administered by the department if the individual
60	60	2.30has failed two previous consecutive knowledge tests on the subject.
61	61	2.31 (b) A fee of $20 must be paid by an individual to take a third and any subsequent skills
62	62	2.32or road test administered by the department if the individual has previously failed two
63	63	2.33consecutive skill or road tests in a specified class of motor vehicle.
64	64	2Sec. 2.
65	65	25-00984 as introduced12/23/24 REVISOR KRB/RC 3.1 (c) A fee of $20 $50 must be paid by an individual who fails to appear for a scheduled
66	66	3.2skills or road test or who cancels a skills or road test within less than 24 hours of before the
67	67	3.3appointment time. A fee of $20 must be paid by an individual who cancels a scheduled
68	68	3.4skills or road test between 24 hours and 72 hours before the appointment time.
69	69	3.5 (d) All fees received under this subdivision must be paid into the state treasury and
70	70	3.6credited to the driver and vehicle services operating account under section 299A.705.
71	71	3.7 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to
72	72	3.8examinations on or after that date.
73	73	3Sec. 2.
74	74	25-00984 as introduced12/23/24 REVISOR KRB/RC