Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to establish a new type of special license plate for vehicles in Minnesota dedicated to ice fishing enthusiasts, while also supporting environmental conservation efforts related to ice fishing areas.

Main Provisions

• Issuance of Ice Fishing License Plates: The bill proposes that the Minnesota Department of Public Safety can issue special ice fishing license plates to registered vehicle owners. This includes passenger automobiles, noncommercial one-ton pickup trucks, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles.

• Application Requirements: Applicants must pay special plate fees as well as any related registration taxes and fees. Furthermore, applicants are required to contribute annually to the "Keep It Clean" account.

• Plate Design: The design for these specialty plates will be developed by the commissioner in collaboration with representatives from the Keep It Clean MN initiative.

• Plate Transfer: The plates can be transferred to another qualifying vehicle owned by the same individual for a nominal transfer fee.

• Account Contributions and Appropriation: Contributions from the issuance of these plates will be directed into the Keep It Clean account, a specific fund in the special revenue fund. The funds will first cover the account's administration costs, and remaining funds will support initiatives to reduce waste on ice fishing sites, as detailed in section 97C.363 of the Minnesota Statutes.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Exemption from Current Rules: The new plates are exempt from the provisions of section 168.1293, subdivision 2, which typically applies to special license plates.

Relevant Terms

• Ice fishing
• Special license plates
• Keep It Clean account
• Environmental conservation
• Motor vehicle registration
• Minnesota Department of Public Safety