Purpose

• To change Minnesota law so veterans who have a total service-connected disability do not have to pay the ATV (all-terrain vehicle) registration fee. The bill also adjusts how ATV fees are collected and where the money goes.

What the bill changes (main provisions)

• Exemption for disabled veterans: A veteran with a total service-connected disability who provides acceptable evidence of a 100 percent total and permanent disability rating is exempt from the ATV registration fee and gets a three-year registration at no charge.
• Who qualifies: The definition used is a veteran as defined in section 197.447, with evidence shown to the commissioner, based on determinations by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the armed forces retirement board.
• Where the exemption applies: The exemption is for the standard three-year ATV registration under subdivision 5(a) (the general registration category), not for dealer or manufacturer registrations.
• Other registration categories remain:
  • Dealer-owned ATVs used for demonstration or testing have their own fee (separate from the veteran exemption).
  • Manufacturer-owned ATVs used for research, testing, experimentation, or demonstration have their own fee (separate from the veteran exemption).
  • These dealer and manufacturer registrations are not transferable.
• One-time fee reference: The bill also mentions a one-time fee under subdivision 2b for certain registrations, though the exact amount is not clearly stated in the text provided.
• Revenue and account: All fees collected under these provisions must be credited to the all-terrain vehicle account.

Definitions and key terms (embedded in the changes)

• All-terrain vehicle (ATV)
• Registration fee
• Three-year registration
• Public use (ATV)
• Private use (ATV)
• Duplicate or transfer (registration)
• Dealer registrations
• Manufacturer registrations
• Demonstration or testing
• Research testing, experimentation, or demonstration
• Veteran with a total service-connected disability
• 100 percent total and permanent disability rating
• United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• Retirement board (armed forces)
• Section 197.447
• All-terrain vehicle account

Significant changes to existing law

• Adds a full exemption from the ATV three-year registration fee for veterans with a 100% total and permanent service-connected disability, upon proper verification.
• Clarifies and preserves existing fee structures for dealer- and manufacturer-owned ATVs (fees remain for those categories and these registrations are non-transferable).
• Maintains an onetime fee provision under subdivision 2b (details may be defined elsewhere in the statute).
• Ensures all ATV-related fees are deposited into the All-Terrain Vehicle Account.

Potential impact

• Financial relief for eligible disabled veterans who own ATVs.
• Administrative process added for verifying disability status (through VA or military retirement records).
• Clear separation of fee-exemption categories from dealer/manufacturer registrations.

Relevant Terms ATV, all-terrain vehicle, registration fee, three-year registration, veteran with a total service-connected disability, 100 percent total and permanent disability rating, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, retirement board, section 197.447, dealer registrations, manufacturer registrations, demonstration, testing, research testing, experimentation, all-terrain vehicle account, exemption.