1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to drivers' licenses; expanding the length of time a nonresident with a valid
1.3 driver's license from another state or jurisdiction may operate a motor vehicle
1.4 without being required to apply for Minnesota driver's license; amending Minnesota
1.5 Statutes 2024, section 171.03.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 171.03, is amended to read:
1.8 171.03 PERSONS EXEMPT.
1.9 The following persons are exempt from license hereunder:
1.10 (a) A person in the employ or service of the United States federal government is exempt
1.11while driving or operating a motor vehicle owned by or leased to the United States federal
1.12government.
1.13 (b) A person in the employ or service of the United States federal government is exempt
1.14from the requirement to possess a valid class A, class B, or class C commercial driver's
1.15license while driving or operating for military purposes a commercial motor vehicle for the
1.16United States federal government if the person is:
1.17 (1) on active duty in the U. S. Coast Guard;
1.18 (2) on active duty in a branch of the U. S. armed forces, which includes the Army, Air
1.19Force, Navy, and Marine Corps;
1.20 (3) a member of a reserve component of the U. S. armed forces; or
1.21 (4) on active duty in the Army National Guard or Air National Guard, which includes
1.22(i) a member on full-time National Guard duty, (ii) a member undergoing part-time National
1Section 1.
25-05337 as introduced03/31/25 REVISOR KRB/ES
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 3264NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: FATEH)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading04/03/2025
Referred to Transportation 2.1Guard training, and (iii) a National Guard military technician, who is a civilian required to
2.2wear a military uniform.
2.3The exemption provided under this paragraph does not apply to a U. S. armed forces reserve
2.4technician.
2.5 (c) A person operating a covered farm vehicle as defined in Code of Federal Regulations,
2.6title 49, section 390.05, that is not carrying hazardous materials of a type or quantity that
2.7requires the vehicle to be placarded in accordance with Code of Federal Regulations, title
2.849, section 172.504, is exempt from the requirement to possess a valid class A, class B, or
2.9class C commercial driver's license.
2.10 (d) Any person while driving or operating any farm tractor or implement of husbandry
2.11temporarily on a highway is exempt. For purposes of this section, an all-terrain vehicle, as
2.12defined in section 84.92, subdivision 8, an off-highway motorcycle, as defined in section
2.1384.787, subdivision 7, and an off-road vehicle, as defined in section 84.797, subdivision 7,
2.14are not implements of husbandry.
2.15 (e) A nonresident who is at least 15 years of age and who has in immediate possession
2.16a valid driver's license issued to the nonresident in the home state or country may operate
2.17a motor vehicle in this state only as a driver.
2.18 (f) A nonresident who has in immediate possession a valid commercial driver's license
2.19issued by a state or jurisdiction in accordance with the standards of Code of Federal
2.20Regulations, title 49, part 383, and who is operating in Minnesota the class of commercial
2.21motor vehicle authorized by the issuing state or jurisdiction is exempt.
2.22 (g) Any nonresident who is at least 18 years of age, whose home state or country does
2.23not require the licensing of drivers may operate a motor vehicle as a driver, but only for a
2.24period of not more than 90 days in any calendar year, if the motor vehicle so operated is
2.25duly registered for the current calendar year in the home state or country of the nonresident.
2.26 (h) Any person who becomes a resident of the state of Minnesota and who has in
2.27possession a valid driver's license issued to the person under and pursuant to the laws of
2.28some other state or jurisdiction or by military authorities of the United States may operate
2.29a motor vehicle as a driver, but only for a period of not more than 60 180 days after becoming
2.30a resident of this state, without being required to have a Minnesota driver's license as provided
2.31in this chapter.
2.32 (i) Any person who becomes a resident of the state of Minnesota and who has in
2.33possession a valid commercial driver's license issued by another state or jurisdiction in
2Section 1.
25-05337 as introduced03/31/25 REVISOR KRB/ES 3.1accordance with the standards of Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, part 383, is exempt
3.2for not more than 30 days after becoming a resident of this state.
3.3 (j) Any person operating a snowmobile, as defined in section 84.81, is exempt.
3.4 (k) A railroad operator, as defined in section 169.035, subdivision 4, paragraph (a), is
3.5exempt while operating a railroad locomotive or train, or on-track equipment while being
3.6operated upon rails. This exemption includes operation while crossing a street or highway,
3.7whether public or private.
3.8 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
3Section 1.
25-05337 as introduced03/31/25 REVISOR KRB/ES