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HF3553 • 2026

Vehicle platoon pilot project authorized for certain roads in Wilkin County and Grant County, and report required.

Vehicle platoon pilot project authorized for certain roads in Wilkin County and Grant County, and report required.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Backer, Koznick
Last action
2026-03-05
Official status
Author added Koznick
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-05 House

    Author added Koznick

  2. 2026-02-19 House

    Introduction and first reading, referred to Transportation Finance and Policy

Official Summary Text

Vehicle platoon pilot project authorized for certain roads in Wilkin County and Grant County, and report required.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
A bill for an act

relating to transportation; authorizing vehicle platoon pilot project for certain roads

in Wilkin County and Grant County; requiring a report.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.
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VEHICLE PLATOON PLAN AUTHORIZED.
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Subdivision 1.

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Definitions.

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(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have

the meanings given.

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(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of transportation.

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(c) "Relevant road authority" means Wilkin County for vehicle platoon plan locations

specified in subdivision 4, paragraphs (b) to (e), and both Wilkin County and Grant County

for the vehicle platoon plan location specified in subdivision 4, paragraph (f).

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(d) "State highway" means a highway on the trunk highway system.

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(e) "Vehicle platoon" has the meaning given in Minnesota Statutes, section 169.011,

subdivision 92a.

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Subd. 2.

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Vehicle platoon plan; required information; authority.

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(a) In addition to

seeking approval to use a platooning system from the commissioner under Minnesota

Statutes, section 169.881, a person may apply to a relevant road authority for approval to

use a platooning system for a combination of locations or all locations specified in subdivision

4. In addition to the commissioner, the road authority may grant or deny a vehicle platoon

plan submitted under this section. For the locations specified in subdivision 4, paragraph

(f), both Wilkin County and Grant County must approve the vehicle platoon plan for segments

within their respective jurisdictions.

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(b) Approval from both the relevant road authority and the commissioner must be granted

before the platoon begins operation.

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(c) A vehicle platoon plan authorized under this section and Minnesota Statutes, section

169.881, is valid until expiration of the pilot project. The relevant road authority must

provide written notice to the applicant and the commissioner if a vehicle platoon plan is

denied and must list the reasons for denial. The relevant road authority must approve or

deny a vehicle platoon plan within 60 days of receiving an application.

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(d) The relevant road authority must consult with local and county law enforcement

regarding any identifiable public safety or traffic concerns before approving a vehicle platoon

plan.

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Subd. 3.

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Requirements; operations.

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(a) Vehicle platoon plans submitted to a relevant

road authority for approval to use a platooning system at the locations specified in subdivision

4 must include but are not limited to the following information:

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(1) the total length of the vehicle platoon;

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(2) the configuration of the vehicle platoon, including spacing between vehicles;

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(3) proposed time frames the vehicle platoon will be operating in a specified location;

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(4) certification that each human driver in the vehicle platoon has a valid driver's license

for the type or class of vehicle being driven;

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(5) certification that vehicle height, width, and weight limits conform to Minnesota

Statutes, chapter 169; and

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(6) vehicle identification information.

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(b) The approved vehicle platoon plan may include reasonable conditions and restrictions

to ensure public safety, minimize congestion, avoid road construction or other construction

projects, and prevent undue damage to roads or structures.

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Subd. 4.

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Locations.

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(a) A platooning system under this section may only be operated

in the following special locations.

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(b) In the city of Nashua to the city of Breckenridge on the following roads:

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(1) 3157 State Highway 55 to State Highway 55 West;

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(2) State Highway 55 West to State Highway 9 North;

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(3) State Highway 9 North to U.S. Highway 75 North; and

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(4) U.S. Highway 75 North in the city of Breckenridge to North Dakota Highway 210

to the North Dakota border.

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(c) In the city of Wolverton to the city of Breckenridge on the following roads:

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(1) 1760 110th Street to Wilkin County State-Aid Highway 32 West;

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(2) Wilkin County State-Aid Highway 32 West to Wilkin County State-Aid Highway

3 South;

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(3) Wilkin County State-Aid Highway 3 South to U.S. Highway 75 South; and

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(4) U.S. Highway 75 South in the city of Breckenridge to North Dakota Highway 210

to the North Dakota border.

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(d) In the city of Foxhome to the city of Breckenridge on the following roads:

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(1) 3350 290th Avenue to 290th Avenue South;

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(2) 290th Avenue South to State Highway 210 West;

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(3) State Highway 210 West to U.S. Highway 75 North; and

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(4) U.S. Highway 75 North in the city of Breckenridge to North Dakota Highway 210

to the North Dakota border.

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(e) In the city of Doran to the city of Breckenridge on the following roads:

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(1) 4103 320th Avenue to Wilkin County State-Aid Highway 8 West;

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(2) Wilkin County State-Aid Highway 8 West to State Highway 9 North;

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(3) State Highway 9 North to U.S. Highway 75 North; and

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(4) U.S. Highway 75 North in the city of Breckenridge to North Dakota Highway 210

to the North Dakota border.

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(f) In the city of Norcross in Grant County to the city of Breckenridge on the following

roads:

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(1) the Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative pilings location at ....... to Grant County State-Aid

Highway 8 East;

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(2) Grant County State-Aid Highway 8 East to State Highway 9 North;

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(3) State Highway 9 North to U.S. Highway 75 North; and

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(4) U.S. Highway 75 North in the city of Breckenridge to North Dakota Highway 210

to the North Dakota border.

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Subd. 5.

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Expiration.

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Vehicle platoon plans approved under this section expire on January

1, 2030.

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Subd. 6.

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Report required.

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By January 1, 2029, relevant road authorities and the

commissioner approving a vehicle platoon plan under this section must submit a report to

the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction

over transportation finance and policy. The report must analyze and evaluate:

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(1) the impact of approved vehicle platoon plans on different road segments and pavement

types;

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(2) the impact on traffic patterns and public safety for approved vehicle platoon plans;

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(3) whether the relevant road authority engaged in public awareness campaigns;

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(4) the technical and administrative challenges for managing and evaluating vehicle

platoon plans submitted under this section;

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(5) whether vehicle platoon plans approved under this section should be made permanent

at the specified locations in subdivision 4;

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(6) whether vehicle platoon plans should be expanded to other locations across the state;

and

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(7) the challenges for adopting statewide vehicle platoon plans and how the commissioner

would administer a statewide program in coordination with local road authorities.

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