Fees for some nonmotorized watercraft eliminated.

A bill for an act

relating to natural resources; eliminating fees for some nonmotorized watercraft;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 86B.415, subdivisions 1, 2; Minnesota

Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 86B.415, subdivision 7; repealing Minnesota

Statutes 2024, section 86B.415, subdivision 1a.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 86B.415, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Watercraft 19 feet or less.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) and

subdivision 1a, the fee for a watercraft license for watercraft 19 feet or less in length is $59.

(b) The watercraft license fee is:

(1) for watercraft, other than personal watercraft, 19 feet in length or less that is offered

for rent or lease, $14;

(2) for a sailboat, 19 feet in length or less, $23;

(3) for a watercraft 19 feet in length or less used by a nonprofit corporation for teaching

boat and water safety, as provided in subdivision 4;

(4) for a watercraft owned by a dealer under a dealer's license, as provided in subdivision

5;

(5) for a personal watercraft, including one offered for rent or lease, $85; and

(6) for a
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motorized
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watercraft less than 17 feet in length, other than a watercraft listed

in clauses (1) to (5), $36.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 86B.415, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Watercraft over 19 feet.

Except as provided in subdivisions
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1a,
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3, 4, and 5,

the watercraft license fee:

(1) for a watercraft more than 19 feet but less than 26 feet in length is $113;

(2) for a watercraft 26 feet but less than 40 feet in length is $164; and

(3) for a watercraft 40 feet in length or longer is $209.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 86B.415, subdivision 7, is amended

to read:

Subd. 7.

Watercraft surcharge.

A surcharge is placed on each watercraft licensed under

subdivisions 1 to 5 for control, public awareness, law enforcement, monitoring, and research

of aquatic invasive species such as zebra mussel, purple loosestrife, and Eurasian watermilfoil

in public waters and public wetlands. The surcharge is:

(1) for a watercraft 19 feet or less in length, other than a watercraft listed in clauses (2)

to
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(8)
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(7)
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, $29;

(2) for a watercraft, other than personal watercraft, 19 feet in length or less that is offered

for rent or lease, $25;

(3) for a sailboat 19 feet in length or less, $20;

(4) for a watercraft used by a nonprofit corporation for teaching boat and water safety,

$14;

(5) for a watercraft owned by a dealer under a dealer's license, $50;

(6) for a personal watercraft, including one offered for rent or lease, $25;

(7) for a
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motorized
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watercraft less than 17 feet in length, other than a watercraft listed

in clauses (2) to (6), $25;

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(8) for a canoe, kayak, sailboard, paddleboard, paddleboat, or rowing shell over ten feet

in length, $20;

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(9)
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(8)
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for a watercraft more than 19 feet but less than 26 feet in length, other than a

watercraft listed in clauses (4), (5),
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(8),
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and
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(12)
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(11)
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, $38;

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(10)
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(9)
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for a watercraft 26 feet but less than 40 feet in length, other than a watercraft

listed in clauses (4), (5),
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(8),
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and
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(12)
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(11)
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, $50;

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(11)
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(10)
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for a watercraft 40 feet in length or longer, other than a watercraft listed in

clauses (4), (5),
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(8),
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and
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(12)
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(11)
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, $62; and

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(12)
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(11)
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for a watercraft used primarily for charter fishing, commercial fishing,

commercial passenger carrying, or other commercial operation, $50.

Sec. 4.
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REPEALER.
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Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 86B.415, subdivision 1a,

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is repealed.

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APPENDIX

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 26-07916

86B.415 LICENSE FEES.

Subd. 1a.

Canoes, kayaks, sailboards, paddleboards, paddleboats, or rowing shells.

The fee for a watercraft license for a canoe, kayak, sailboard, paddleboard, paddleboat, or rowing shell over ten feet in length is $23.