HF4973

Purpose

Create Minnesota Main Streets special license plates and establish a dedicated Minnesota Main Streets account to support historic sites and commercial districts across Minnesota. The bill sets up a funding stream and program administration aimed at promoting Legendary Landmarks within Minnesota communities.

Main Provisions

• Issuance of plates
  • The commissioner must issue Minnesota Main Streets plates (or a single motorcycle plate) to applicants who are:
  • Registered owners of a passenger automobile, a noncommercial one-ton pickup truck, motorcycle, or recreational vehicle
  • Pay the applicable fees (as defined by the statute), the required registration tax, and contribute at least $30 annually to the Minnesota Main Streets account
  • Comply with all registration and licensing requirements
• Plate design
  • In consultation with the commissioner of employment and economic development, the design must include the phrase Legendary Landmarks to reflect Minnesota’s historic sites, commercial districts, and diverse communities
• Plate transfer
  • Special plates may be transferred to another eligible vehicle for a $5 transfer fee, provided the new vehicle is eligible and registered to the same person
• Exemption
  • Plates issued under this section are exempt from a referenced provision (168.1293 subdivision 2)
• Contributions and funding
  • The $30 annual minimum contribution from plate holders goes into the Minnesota Main Streets account, established in the special revenue fund
  • Money in the Minnesota Main Streets account is annually appropriated first to cover the cost of administering the account, with the remaining funds distributed to Rethos exclusively for the Minnesota Main Streets program
• Program administration and oversight
  • The funding arrangement directs administration costs to be paid from the account before distributing remaining funds to the program partner

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Establishes a new statutory framework (168.1257) to create and govern Minnesota Main Streets special plates and the associated funding and program structure
• Creates a dedicated Minnesota Main Streets account within the special revenue fund and designates a specific recipient (Rethos) for program delivery

What This Bill Seeks to Accomplish

• Provide a fundraising mechanism to support Minnesota Main Streets initiatives that preserve and promote historic sites and local business districts
• Link plate ownership to a recurring annual contribution and a targeted program partner to implement the efforts

Key Administrative Details

• Design and oversight involve collaboration with the commissioner of employment and economic development
• Revenue is reserved for administration first, then allocated to the Minnesota Main Streets program via Rethos

Impact on Stakeholders

• Vehicle owners who want the special plates will contribute a minimum annual amount and may see a designated design element (Legendary Landmarks)
• The program supporters and the public safety department will share oversight of the accounts and transfers
• Rethos becomes the exclusive recipient of the program’s remaining funds for implementation

Relevant Terms - Minnesota Main Streets plates - Minnesota Main Streets account - Special revenue fund - Legendary Landmarks - Rethos - Minnesota Main Streets program - 168.12 subdivision 5 (fee reference) - 168.013 (registration tax) - 168.1293 subdivision 2 (exemption reference) - Noncommercial one-ton pickup truck - Passenger automobile - Motorcycle - Recreational vehicle - Design consultation - Transfer fee ($5) - Commissioner of public safety - Commissioner of employment and economic development