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SF4482 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Survivor support license plate establishment

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

  • Establish survivor support special license plates to raise funds for crime victims by requiring a mandatory contribution to the crime victims account, and to codify the program in Minnesota law.

Main Provisions

  • Issuance of plates

    • The commissioner must issue survivor support special license plates (or a single motorcycle plate) to an applicant who owns a passenger automobile, recreational vehicle, one-ton pickup, one-ton truck, or motorcycle.
    • The applicant must pay:
    • the standard fee for special plates (as defined in Minnesota Statutes),
    • the required registration tax,
    • other applicable fees under Minnesota law,
    • a contribution of $30 upon initial application and a minimum of $30 annually to the crime victims account (611A.612).
    • The applicant must also comply with all registration and licensing requirements.

  • Design

    • The commissioner must adopt a suitable plate design in consultation with the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Violence Free Minnesota, and other groups identified by the commissioner.

  • No refund

    • Contributions collected under this section are nonrefundable.

  • Plate transfers

    • Plates issued under this section may be transferred to another eligible vehicle if:
    • the subsequent vehicle qualifies to bear the plates, and
    • the vehicle is registered to the same individual who originally received the plates.
    • A transfer fee of $5 applies.

  • Credits to crime victims account

    • The contributions described above must be deposited into the crime victims account (611A.612).
    • An amount sufficient to cover the department’s administrative costs for the account is appropriated from that account.

  • Recordkeeping

    • The commissioner must maintain a record of the number of plates issued under this section.

  • Exemption

    • Plates issued under this section are not subject to a specific unrelated provision (168.1293, subdivision 2).

Financial and Administrative Details

  • Funding flow: contributions go to the crime victims account to support victims services, with a portion used to cover administration costs.
  • Fee structure: includes standard special-plate fees, registration tax, and a recurring contribution to the crime victims account.

Compliance and Scope

  • Applies to owners of specified vehicle types (cars, RVs, certain heavy pickups/trucks, motorcycles) who choose the survivor support plate.
  • Requires ongoing compliance with registration rules and payment of required fees.
  • Designed with input from sexual assault and victim-support organizations to guide design and messaging.

Significance / Impact

  • Creates a dedicated funding stream for crime victims programs via a specialized license plate.
  • Promotes survivor-focused messaging through plate design and branding in collaboration with advocacy groups.

Relevant Terms - survivor support plates - special license plates - crime victims account (611A.612) - Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault - Violence Free Minnesota - Minnesota Statutes chapter 168 - vehicle registration - plate transfer - transfer fee - nonrefundable contributions - plate design process - registration tax - administrative costs

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 17, 2026SenateActionIntroduction and first reading
March 17, 2026SenateActionReferred toTransportation

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill references Minnesota Statutes chapter 168 as the codification framework for new survivor support license plates (the new section 168.1257 would be added to that chapter).",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "168",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill uses existing provisions for special plates under Minnesota Statutes section 168.12, subdivision 1 to establish costs and transfer rules for the survivor support plates.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "168.12",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill requires payment of the registration tax under section 168.013 for survivor plates.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "168.013",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Contributions under this section would be deposited in the crime victims account established in section 611A.612.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "611A.612",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Special plates issued under this section are exempt from section 168.1293, subdivision 2; the bill provides an exemption for survivor plates from that provision.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "168.1293",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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