Optometrist clarified to be able to prescribe certain window glazing materials for motor vehicles.

A bill for an act

relating to transportation; clarifying that an optometrist may prescribe certain

window glazing materials; amending Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section

169.71, subdivision 4a.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 169.71, subdivision 4a, is amended

to read:

Subd. 4a.

Glazing material; exceptions.

(a) Subdivision 4 does not apply to glazing

materials that:

(1) have not been modified since the original installation, nor to original replacement

windows and windshields, that were originally installed or replaced in conformity with

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205;

(2) are required to satisfy prescription or medical needs, provided:

(i) the vehicle's driver or a passenger possesses a prescription or a physician's
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or

optometrist's
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statement of medical need;

(ii) the prescription specifically states whether the medical need is a temporary or

permanent condition;

(iii) the prescription or statement specifically states the minimum percentage that light

transmittance may be reduced to satisfy the prescription or medical needs of the patient;

and

(iv) the prescription or statement contains an expiration date provided by the physician
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or optometrist
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, which must be no more than two years after the date the prescription or

statement was issued, unless an indication is made by the physician
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or optometrist
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that the

driver's condition is permanent and no expiration date is appropriate; or

(3) are applied to:

(i) the rear windows of a pickup truck as defined in section
168.002, subdivision 26
;

(ii) the rear windows or the side windows on either side behind the driver's seat of a van

as defined in section
168.002, subdivision 40
;

(iii) the side and rear windows of a vehicle used to transport human remains by a funeral

establishment holding a license under section
149A.50
;

(iv) the side and rear windows of a limousine as defined in section
168.002, subdivision

15
; or

(v) the rear and side windows of a police vehicle.

(b) For the purposes of paragraph (a), clause (2), a driver of a vehicle may rely on a

prescription or physician's
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or optometrist's
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statement of medical need issued to a person not

present in the vehicle if:

(1) the prescription or physician's
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or optometrist's
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statement of medical need is issued

to (i) the driver's parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or spouse, or (ii) a person

for whom the driver is a personal care attendant;

(2) the prescription or physician's
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or optometrist's
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statement of medical need specifies

the make, model, and license plate of one or two vehicles that will have tinted windows;

and

(3) the driver is in possession of the prescription or physician's
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or optometrist's
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statement

of medical need.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective retroactively from July 1, 2025, and

applies to prescriptions issued on or after that date.

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