Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota Senate Bill SF910 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; repealing authorization for motorcyclists to split or filter
3	3	1.3 lanes; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 169.223, subdivision 4; 169.974,
4	4	1.4 subdivision 5; Laws 2024, chapter 127, article 1, section 4, subdivision 3; repealing
5	5	1.5 Laws 2024, chapter 127, article 3, section 122.
6	6	1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
7	7	1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 169.223, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
8	8	1.8 Subd. 4.Headlight requirement.The provisions of section 169.974, subdivision 5,
9	9	1.9paragraph (k) (i), apply to motorized bicycles that are equipped with headlights. A new
10	10	1.10motorized bicycle sold or offered for sale in Minnesota must be equipped with a headlight.
11	11	1.11 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
12	12	1.12 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 169.974, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
13	13	1.13 Subd. 5.Driving rules.(a) An operator of a motorcycle must ride only upon a permanent
14	14	1.14and regular seat which is attached to the vehicle for that purpose. No other person may ride
15	15	1.15on a motorcycle, except that passengers may ride (1) upon a permanent and regular operator's
16	16	1.16seat if designed for two persons, (2) upon additional seats attached to or in the vehicle, or
17	17	1.17(3) in a sidecar attached to the vehicle. The operator of a motorcycle is prohibited from
18	18	1.18carrying passengers in a number in excess of the designed capacity of the motorcycle or
19	19	1.19sidecar attached to it. A passenger is prohibited from being carried in a position that interferes
20	20	1.20with the safe operation of the motorcycle or the view of the operator.
21	21	1.21 (b) No person may ride upon a motorcycle as a passenger unless the person can reach
22	22	1.22the footrests or floorboards with both feet.
23	23	1Sec. 2.
24	24	25-02197 as introduced01/21/25 REVISOR KRB/LJ
25	25	SENATE
26	26	STATE OF MINNESOTA
27	27	S.F. No. 910NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
28	28	(SENATE AUTHORS: BOLDON, McEwen and Maye Quade)
29	29	OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
30	30	Introduction and first reading02/03/2025
31	31	Referred to Transportation 2.1 (c) Except for passengers of sidecars, drivers and passengers of three-wheeled
32	32	2.2motorcycles, and persons in an autocycle, no person may operate or ride upon a motorcycle
33	33	2.3except while sitting astride the seat, facing forward, with one leg on either side of the
34	34	2.4motorcycle.
35	35	2.5 (d) No person may operate a motorcycle while carrying animals, packages, bundles, or
36	36	2.6other cargo that prevent the person from keeping both hands on the handlebars.
37	37	2.7 (e) No person may operate a motorcycle between lanes of moving or stationary vehicles
38	38	2.8headed in the same direction, nor may any person drive a motorcycle abreast of or overtake
39	39	2.9or pass another vehicle within the same traffic lane. Motorcycles may, with the consent of
40	40	2.10both drivers, be operated not more than two abreast in a single traffic lane if the vehicles
41	41	2.11fit safely within the designated space of the lane.
42	42	2.12 (f) Except under the conditions specified in paragraph (g), no person may operate a
43	43	2.13motorcycle:
44	44	2.14 (1) between lanes of moving or stationary vehicles headed in the same direction of travel;
45	45	2.15 (2) abreast of moving or stationary vehicles within the same traffic lane; or
46	46	2.16 (3) to overtake or pass another vehicle within the same traffic lane.
47	47	2.17 (g) A person may operate a motorcycle and overtake and pass another vehicle in the
48	48	2.18same direction of travel and within the same traffic lane if the motorcycle is operated:
49	49	2.19 (1) at not more than 25 miles per hour; and
50	50	2.20 (2) no more than 15 miles per hour over the speed of traffic in the relevant traffic lanes.
51	51	2.21 (h) (f) Motor vehicles including motorcycles are entitled to the full use of a traffic lane
52	52	2.22and no motor vehicle may be driven or operated in a manner so as to deprive a motorcycle
53	53	2.23of the full use of a traffic lane.
54	54	2.24 (i) (g) A person operating a motorcycle upon a roadway must be granted the rights and
55	55	2.25is subject to the duties applicable to a motor vehicle as provided by law, except as to those
56	56	2.26provisions which by their nature can have no application.
57	57	2.27 (j) Paragraphs (h) Paragraph (e) and (f) of this subdivision do does not apply to police
58	58	2.28officers in the performance of their official duties.
59	59	2.29 (k) (i) No person may operate a motorcycle on a street or highway unless the headlight
60	60	2.30or headlights are lighted at all times the motorcycle is so operated.
61	61	2.31 (l) (j) A person parking a motorcycle on the roadway of a street or highway must:
62	62	2Sec. 2.
63	63	25-02197 as introduced01/21/25 REVISOR KRB/LJ 3.1 (1) if parking in a marked parking space, park the motorcycle completely within the
64	64	3.2marked space; and
65	65	3.3 (2) park the motorcycle in such a way that the front of the motorcycle is pointed or
66	66	3.4angled toward the nearest lane of traffic to the extent practicable and necessary to allow the
67	67	3.5operator to (i) view any traffic in both directions of the street or highway without having
68	68	3.6to move the motorcycle into a lane of traffic and without losing balance or control of the
69	69	3.7motorcycle, and (ii) ride the motorcycle forward and directly into a lane of traffic when the
70	70	3.8lane is sufficiently clear of traffic.
71	71	3.9 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
72	72	3.10 Sec. 3. Laws 2024, chapter 127, article 1, section 4, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
73	73	3.11 1,400,000
74	74	1,200,000-0-3.12Subd. 3.Traffic Safety
75	75	3.13Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section
76	76	3.14299A.705, regarding the use of funds from
77	77	3.15this account, $1,200,000 in fiscal year 2025
78	78	3.16is from the driver and vehicle services
79	79	3.17operating account in the special revenue fund
80	80	3.18for the Lights On grant program under
81	81	3.19Minnesota Statutes, section 169.515. The
82	82	3.20commissioner must contract with the Lights
83	83	3.21On! microgrant program to administer and
84	84	3.22operate the grant program. Notwithstanding
85	85	3.23Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.98,
86	86	3.24subdivision 14, the commissioner may use up
87	87	3.25to two percent of this appropriation for
88	88	3.26administrative costs. This is a onetime
89	89	3.27appropriation and is available until June 30,
90	90	3.282026.
91	91	3.29$200,000 in fiscal year 2025 is from the
92	92	3.30motorcycle safety account in the special
93	93	3.31revenue fund for the public education
94	94	3.32campaign on motorcycle operation under
95	95	3.33article 3, section 122. This is a onetime
96	96	3.34appropriation.
97	97	3Sec. 3.
98	98	25-02197 as introduced01/21/25 REVISOR KRB/LJ 4.1 Sec. 4. REPEALER.
99	99	4.2 Laws 2024, chapter 127, article 3, section 122, is repealed.
100	100	4Sec. 4.
101	101	25-02197 as introduced01/21/25 REVISOR KRB/LJ Laws 2024, chapter 127, article 3, section 122
102	102	Sec. 122. PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN; MOTORCYCLE OPERATIONS.
103	103	The commissioner of public safety must implement a statewide public education campaign to
104	104	alert drivers and the public on how motorcycles may safely overtake and pass a vehicle within the
105	105	same lane or between parallel lanes. The information must be consistent with the requirements of
106	106	Minnesota Statutes, section 169.974, subdivision 5.
107	107	1R
108	108	APPENDIX
109	109	Repealed Minnesota Session Laws: 25-02197