Fees for replacement license plates and validation stickers eliminated.

A bill for an act

relating to transportation; eliminating fees for certain replacement license plates

and validation stickers; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 168.29;

168.33, subdivision 7.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 168.29, is amended to read:

168.29 REPLACEMENT PLATES.

(a) In the event of the defacement,
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failure,
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loss, or destruction of any
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number
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license
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plates or validation stickers, the commissioner
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,
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must issue a new set of plates or stickers
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upon receiving
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and filing
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:
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(1)
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a sworn statement of the vehicle owner, setting forth the circumstances of the

defacement,
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failure,
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loss, destruction, or theft
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of the number plates or validation stickers,

together with
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;
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(2)
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any
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defaced
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available
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plates or stickers
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being replaced
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;
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and
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the
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(3)
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payment of a fee calculated to cover the cost of replacement,
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must issue a new set

of plates or stickers
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subject to paragraph (c)
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.

(b) A licensed motor vehicle dealer may only apply for replacement plates upon

application for a certificate of title in the name of a new owner or the dealer. The

commissioner must issue a new set of plates or validation stickers upon application for title

and registration after removal of plates pursuant to section
168A.11, subdivision 2
.

(c) Plates issued under this section are subject to section
168.12
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. The commissioner must

not impose a fee for replacement of a license plate or validation sticker that is defective or

fails to perform its function other than through normal wear and tear or damage sustained

after issuance.
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(d) The commissioner must note on the commissioner's records the issue of new
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number
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plates and must attempt to cancel and call in the original plates so as to insure against their

use on another motor vehicle.

(e) Duplicate registration certificates plainly marked as duplicates may be issued in like

cases upon the payment of a $1 fee. Fees collected under this section must be deposited in

the driver and vehicle services operating account under section
299A.705, subdivision 1
.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective the day following final enactment.

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Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 168.33, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Filing fees; allocations.

(a) In addition to all other statutory fees and taxes:

(1) an $8 filing fee is imposed on every vehicle registration renewal, excluding pro rate

transactions; and

(2) a $12 filing fee is imposed on every other type of vehicle transaction, including motor

carrier fuel licenses under sections
168D.05
and
168D.06
, and pro rate transactions.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a):

(1) a filing fee may not be charged for
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:
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(i)
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a document returned for a refund
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;
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(ii) issuance of a replacement license plate or validation sticker that is defective or fails

to perform its function other than through normal wear and tear or damage sustained after

issuance;
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or
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for
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(iii)
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a correction of an error made by the Department of Public Safety, a dealer, or a

deputy registrar; and

(2) no filing fee or other fee may be charged for the permanent surrender of a title for a

vehicle.

(c) The filing fee must be shown as a separate item on all registration renewal notices

sent out by the commissioner.

(d) The statutory fees and taxes, the filing fees imposed under paragraph (a), and the

surcharge imposed under paragraph (f) may be paid by credit card or debit card. The deputy

registrar may collect a surcharge on the payment made under this paragraph not greater than

the cost of processing a credit card or debit card transaction, in accordance with emergency

rules established by the commissioner of public safety. The surcharge authorized by this

paragraph must be used to pay the cost of processing credit and debit card transactions.

(e) The fees collected under paragraph (a) by the department must be allocated as follows:

(1) of the fees collected under paragraph (a), clause (1):

(i) $6.50 must be deposited in the driver and vehicle services operating account under

section
299A.705, subdivision 1
; and

(ii) $1.50 must be deposited in the driver and vehicle services technology account under

section
299A.705, subdivision 3
; and

(2) of the fees collected under paragraph (a), clause (2):

(i) $3.50 must be deposited in the general fund;

(ii) $7 must be deposited in the driver and vehicle services operating account under

section
299A.705, subdivision 1
; and

(iii) $1.50 must be deposited in the driver and vehicle services technology account under

section
299A.705, subdivision 3
.

(f) In addition to all other statutory fees and taxes, a deputy registrar must assess a $1

surcharge on every transaction for which filing fees are collected under this subdivision.

The surcharge authorized by this paragraph must be (1) deposited in the treasury of the

place for which the deputy registrar is appointed, or (2) if the deputy registrar is not a public

official, retained by the deputy registrar. For purposes of this paragraph, a deputy registrar

does not include the commissioner.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective the day following final enactment.

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