HF4262 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Motorboat operator provisions modified; game and fish license, reporting, and penalty provisions modified; penalties for false statements and alterations of applications, licenses, permits, and registrations created; invasive species provisions modified; and other natural resources provisions modified.
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- The bill makes changes to natural resources-related laws focused on registration practices, penalties for false statements or alterations in applications or registrations, and the use of offroad vehicle trail passes. It aims to strengthen enforcement against registration fraud and to establish a funded system for offroad vehicle trails.
Main Provisions
- Unlawful acts related to registration (Sections 1–2)
- Defines unlawful acts for registrations or dealer 21-day temporary registrations, including:
- Issuing, obtaining, or using a dealer 21-day registration without the intent to complete a sale and registration.
- Obtaining or attempting to obtain a registration through misrepresentation, fraud, or by providing incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or materially untrue information on a registration application.
- Possessing or displaying fictitious or fraudulent registrations or decals.
- Establishes penalties:
- A dealer temporary registration or registration sticker involved in a violation is void.
- Individuals who violate are guilty of a misdemeanor.
- Dealers who violate are guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
- Offroad vehicle trail pass requirements and exemptions (Section 3)
- Replaces/updates rules about offroad vehicle passes for operating on state/offroad trails or use areas.
- Passes must be viewable by peace officers, conservation officers, or an employee designated by the commissioner.
- The commissioner issues passes upon application and payment of a fee.
- Fees and funds handling:
- Fees collected (excluding licensing agent fees) go into the Offroad Vehicle Account in the Natural Resources Fund.
- Funds are used for grants to counties and municipalities for constructing and maintaining offroad vehicle trails and use areas.
- Exemptions and special cases:
- Pass not required for certain vehicles owned/used by the United States, another state, or a political subdivision thereof that is exempt from registration under a separate statute.
- Pass not required for offroad vehicle use on trail portions owned by the user or their immediate family (spouse, child, or parent) or for vehicles already registered under a related statute.
- Certain resident/nonresident pass terms apply (see Fees section).
- Fees and validity:
- Nonresident annual pass: $20, valid January 1 to December 31.
- Nonresident three-year pass: $30.
- Resident annual pass: $20, with a stated validity period of 30 consecutive days after issuance.
- The bill also references coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes chapters 84, 85, and 86B, and the repealing of a prior statute (97C.836.1.16).
Penalties and Enforcement
- Violations of registration-related unlawful acts carry criminal penalties:
- Voided registration/decal upon violation.
- Misdemeanor for individuals who violate.
- Gross misdemeanor for dealers who violate.
Offroad Vehicle Pass System
- Establishes a formal pass system for offroad vehicles on state trails and use areas.
- Requires passes to be visible to designated officials (peace officers, conservation officers, or designated employees).
- Creates a funding mechanism to support trail construction and maintenance through the Offroad Vehicle Account within the Natural Resources Fund.
Fees and Funding
- Sets specific fee amounts for resident and nonresident passes and specifies how funds are allocated (grants to counties/municipalities for trail development and maintenance).
- Exempts certain vehicles and uses from the pass requirement (as described in exemptions).
- Indicates that most pass-related fees go into the Offroad Vehicle Account and are used for offroad trail purposes.
Amendments to Statutes
- Amends Minnesota Statutes to implement the new registration and offroad pass rules.
- Proposes coding for new law in Chapters 84, 85, and 86B.
- Repeals a prior statute (97C.836.1.16).
Overall Impact
- Strengthens enforcement against fraudulent registration practices by creating clear unlawful acts and penalties.
- Establishes a structured, publicly inspectable offroad vehicle trail pass system with dedicated funding to improve and maintain offroad trails.
- Introduces specific exemptions and fee structures to govern pass use by residents and nonresidents.
- Represents broader updates to natural resources related statutes, including potential changes to related licensing and reporting provisions (details not fully specified in the excerpt).
Relevant Terms - dealer temporary 21-day registration permit - unlawful acts related to registration - misrepresentation - fraud - fictitious or fraudulent registration - registration decal - misdemeanor - gross misdemeanor - offroad vehicle state trail pass - peace officer - conservation officer - grant-in-aid - Offroad Vehicle Account - Natural Resources Fund - resident pass - nonresident pass - annual pass - three-year pass - exempt from registration - 84.7885 - 84.7985 - 84.8035 - 84.798 - 97C.836.1.16 (repealed) - Minnesota Statutes chapters 84, 85, 86B
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 12, 2026 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Public Safety Finance and Policy |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Prohibits issuing, obtaining, or using a dealer 21-day registration permit without the intent to complete a sale and registration.",
"Prohibits obtaining or assisting in obtaining a registration through misrepresentation or fraud by providing incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or materially untrue information in the registration application.",
"Prohibits displaying, causing to be displayed, or possessing fictitious or fraudulent registrations or decals."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Establishes unlawful acts related to registration under section 84.788 for dealer registrations, including sale intent, misrepresentation, fraud, and display of fraudulent registrations or decals.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "84.7885",
"subdivision": "Subdivision 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Provides penalties for violations of 84.7885 Subd. 1, including voiding affected registrations and establishing misdemeanor/gross misdemeanor penalties.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "84.7885",
"subdivision": "Subdivision 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Prohibits dealer activities related to dealer 21-day registration permits without sale intent and similar misrepresentation/fraud provisions as in 84.7885."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Establishes unlawful acts related to registration under section 84.7985 for dealer registrations, similar to 84.7885.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "84.7985",
"subdivision": "Subdivision 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Provides penalties for violations of 84.7985 Subd. 1, including voiding registration-related documents and misdemeanor/gross misdemeanor penalties.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "84.7985",
"subdivision": "Subdivision 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds a subdivision to 84.82 as part of the overall amendments to offroad vehicle and registration provisions."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Adds a subdivision to section 84.82 (content not specified in the excerpt).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "84.82",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds a subdivision to 84.8205."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Adds a new subdivision under section 84.8205 (content not specified in the excerpt).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "84.8205",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds a subdivision to 84D.01."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Adds a subdivision to section 84D.01 (content not specified in the excerpt).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "84D.01",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds Subdivision 1 to 84D.05."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Adds subdivision 1 to section 84D.05 (content not specified in the excerpt).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "84D.05",
"subdivision": "Subdivision 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds a subdivision to 85.053."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Adds a subdivision to section 85.053 (content not specified in the excerpt).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "85.053",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds Subdivision 4 to 86B.30."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Adds subdivision 4 to section 86B.30 (content not specified in the excerpt).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "86B.30",
"subdivision": "Subdivision 4"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds Subdivision 2 to 86B.303."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Adds subdivision 2 to section 86B.303 (content not specified in the excerpt).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "86B.303",
"subdivision": "Subdivision 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds Subdivision 1 to 86B.306."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Adds subdivision 1 to section 86B.306 (content not specified in the excerpt).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "86B.306",
"subdivision": "Subdivision 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Acknowledges existing Subdivisions 1 and 2 of 97A.311 and adds a new subdivision."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Adds a subdivision to 97A.311, noting subdivisions 1 and 2 and that a new subdivision is being added.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "97A.311",
"subdivision": "Subd. 1 and 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds a subdivision to 97A.411."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Adds a subdivision to section 97A.411 (content not specified in the excerpt).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "97A.411",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds Subdivision 6 to 97A.485."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Adds subdivision 6 to section 97A.485 (content not specified in the excerpt).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "97A.485",
"subdivision": "Subdivision 6"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References 97C.417 (content not specified in the excerpt).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "97C.417",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds Subdivision 2 to 97C.835."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Adds subdivision 2 to section 97C.835 (content not specified in the excerpt).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "97C.835",
"subdivision": "Subdivision 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds Subdivision 3 to 103G.291."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Adds subdivision 3 to section 103G.291 (content not specified in the excerpt).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "103G.291",
"subdivision": "Subdivision 3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [
"Repeal of 97C.836.1.16."
],
"summary": "Repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 97C.836.1.16.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "97C.836.1.16",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee