SF189 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Vehicle taxes and fee exemptions for eligible surviving spouses of a veteran authorization
Related bill: HF1033
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
To reduce vehicle-related costs for eligible surviving spouses of veterans and certain veterans by creating exemptions from select taxes and fees when registering a vehicle.
Key Definitions
- eligible owner: a person who can qualify for the exemptions, including:
- a veteran with a total service-connected disability, or
- a Gold Star spouse (as defined in law).
- qualifying veteran: a veteran with a total service-connected disability.
- Gold Star spouse: a spouse defined as Gold Star in statute.
- spouse or domestic partner: the person who shares ownership with the eligible owner.
- joint registration: a vehicle registration that lists the qualifying veteran, an eligible owner, and the spouse or domestic partner as owners.
Main Provisions
- Exemptions from fees and taxes:
- The following are exempt for eligible owners when the vehicle is registered under the described eligibility:
- registration taxes
- administrative fees
- filing fees and surcharges
- plate and validation sticker fees
- transfer fees
- Eligibility and ownership structure:
- Exemptions apply to a motor vehicle that is jointly registered by a qualifying veteran, an eligible owner, and a spouse or domestic partner.
- Exclusions to the exemptions:
- The exemption does not include fees for personalized plates.
- It does not include required contributions or donations for certain special plates.
- Vehicle limit:
- An eligible owner may register no more than two motor vehicles at the same time under these exemptions.
- The bill does not prevent registering additional vehicles under normal law (outside these exemptions).
Changes to Existing Law
- The bill would amend Minnesota Statutes to:
- create the exemptions described above within the section governing vehicle registrations and fees.
- add new definitions (and a new subdivision) related to eligible owners and the exemption framework.
- adjust how exemptions apply to jointly registered vehicles and certain plate-related fees.
Significance and Practical Impact
- Provides financial relief on several vehicle-related costs for eligible veterans and Gold Star spouses when sharing ownership of a vehicle with a spouse or domestic partner.
- Creates a defined limit (two vehicles) for exemptions, preventing unlimited use of the tax/fee exemptions.
- Keeps certain fees (personalized plate costs and required donations for special plates) outside the exemption, ensuring those charges still apply.
Potential Limitations and Considerations
- Exemption scope is limited to specific fees; other unrelated costs may still apply.
- The requirement of joint registration with specific parties may limit how exemptions can be used.
Relevant Terms - eligible owner - veteran with total service-connected disability - Gold Star spouse - spouse or domestic partner - joint registration - registration taxes - administrative fees - filing fees and surcharges - plate and validation sticker fees - transfer fees - personalized plates - special plates - two motor vehicles (exemption limit)
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 16, 2025 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| January 16, 2025 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Transportation | |
| January 23, 2025 | Senate | Action | Authors added |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Exemption from registration taxes, administrative fees, filing fees and surcharges, and plate/validation sticker fees for eligible owners.",
"Eligibility tied to veterans with total service-connected disability and Gold Star spouses as defined in Minnesota Statutes."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "The bill creates exemptions for eligible owners (veterans with certain disabilities and Gold Star spouses) from certain registration-related fees for vehicles registered by the veteran/owner.",
"modified": [
"Uses existing definitions (17101, subd. 5 and 33b) to define eligible owners and related beneficiaries."
]
},
"citation": "168.012",
"subdivision": "subdivision 13"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Reference to total service-connected disability as a basis for exemptions in vehicle registration-related provisions."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Defines total service-connected disability, which the bill uses to identify eligible veteran owners.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "171.01",
"subdivision": "subdivision 5"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Reference to Gold Star spouse as an eligible recipient of registration and fee exemptions."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Defines Gold Star spouse, used to identify eligible owners for exemptions.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "171.01",
"subdivision": "subdivision 33b"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"New subdivision 2c establishing the exemption framework relevant to surviving spouses."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Adds subdivision 2c to section 171.06 related to exemptions for eligible surviving spouses of veterans.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "171.06",
"subdivision": "subdivision 2c"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to an existing Minnesota Statute (section 297B.03) as part of the bill's framework; no specific text shown here adding or amending 297B.03.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "297B.03",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Links the exemption to fees described in 168.12, subd. 5."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References the fees that are implicated by the exemptions (e.g., certain registration-related fees).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "168.12",
"subdivision": "subdivision 5"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Notes that certain plate-related fees are or are not included in the exemptions."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References fees related to special plates (personalized plates) in the context of exemptions.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "168.12",
"subdivision": "subdivision 2a"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Explicitly references a specific clause involving special plate-related fees within the exemption framework."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Identifies a fee related to special plates that is subject to or excluded from exemptions.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "168.1255",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1 clause 6"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Explicitly references clause controlling special plate fees within the exemption design."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Identifies another clause related to special plates/fees in the exemption structure.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "168.1258",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1 clause 4"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Incorporates a particular fee-related clause (2(a)(5)) into the exemption framework."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References a specific provision affecting fees for special plates within the exemptions.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "168.1259",
"subdivision": "subdivision 2 paragraph a clause 5"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Includes a specific clause (1(1)(5)) tied to plate-related fees within exemptions."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites a clause related to certain plate-related fees in the exemption context.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "168.1287",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1 clause 5"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Incorporates a particular fee provision (1(a)(5)) into the exemption scheme."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Specifies a fee provision (1(a)(5)) linked to the exemptions for eligible owners.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "168.129",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1 paragraph a clause 5"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Inclusion of a specific fee clause (1(a)(2)) in the exemption context."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References a fee-related provision (1(a)(2)) within the exemption framework.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "168.1295",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1 paragraph a clause 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds a specific fee clause (1(a)(5)) to the exemption provisions."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites a fee clause (1(a)(5)) within the exemptions.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "168.1296",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1 paragraph a clause 5"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Includes a particular fee clause (1(2)) within the exemption scheme."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References another fee-related provision (1(2)) within the exemption framework.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "168.1299",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1 clause 2"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee