Certain requirements establishment related to motor vehicle impacts, including imposing a motor vehicle weight surcharge and requiring certain weight disclosures

A bill for an act

relating to transportation; establishing certain requirements related to motor vehicle

impacts, including imposing a motor vehicle weight surcharge and requiring certain

weight disclosures; requiring a report; appropriating money; amending Minnesota

Statutes 2024, section 168.013, by adding a subdivision; Minnesota Statutes 2025

Supplement, section 168.013, subdivision 1a; proposing coding for new law in

Minnesota Statutes, chapter 325F.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 168.013, subdivision 1a, is

amended to read:

Subd. 1a.

Passenger automobile; hearse.

(a) On passenger automobiles as defined in

section
168.002, subdivision 24
, and hearses, except as otherwise provided, the registration

tax is calculated as $10 plus:

(1) for a vehicle initially registered in Minnesota prior to November 16, 2020, 1.54

percent of the manufacturer's suggested retail price of the vehicle and the destination charge,

subject to the adjustments in paragraphs (e) and (f); or

(2) for a vehicle initially registered in Minnesota on or after November 16, 2020, 1.575

percent of the manufacturer's suggested retail price of the vehicle, subject to the adjustments

in paragraphs (e) and (f).

(b) The registration tax calculation must not include the cost of each accessory or item

of optional equipment separately added to the vehicle and the manufacturer's suggested

retail price. The registration tax calculation must not include a destination charge, except

for a vehicle previously registered in Minnesota prior to November 16, 2020.

(c) The registrar must determine the manufacturer's suggested retail price:

(1) using list price information published by the manufacturer or any nationally

recognized firm or association compiling such data for the automotive industry;

(2) if a dealer does not determine the amount, using the retail price label as provided by

the manufacturer under United States Code, title 15, section 1232; or

(3) if the retail price label is not available, using the actual sales price of the vehicle.

If the registrar is unable to ascertain the manufacturer's suggested retail price of any registered

vehicle in the foregoing manner, the registrar may use any other available source or method.

(d) The registrar must calculate the registration tax using information available to dealers

and deputy registrars at the time the initial application for registration is submitted.

(e) The amount under paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2), must be calculated based on a

percentage of the manufacturer's suggested retail price, as follows:

(1) during the first year of vehicle life, upon 100 percent of the price;

(2) for the second year, 95 percent of the price;

(3) for the third year, 90 percent of the price;

(4) for the fourth year, 80 percent of the price;

(5) for the fifth year, 70 percent of the price;

(6) for the sixth year, 60 percent of the price;

(7) for the seventh year, 50 percent of the price;

(8) for the eighth year, 40 percent of the price;

(9) for the ninth year, 25 percent of the price; and

(10) for the tenth year, ten percent of the price.

(f) For the 11th and each succeeding year, the amount under paragraph (a), clauses (1)

and (2), must be calculated as $20.

(g) Except as provided in subdivision 23, for any vehicle previously registered in

Minnesota and regardless of prior ownership, the total amount due under this subdivision
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and subdivision 1o
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must not exceed the smallest total amount previously paid or due on the

vehicle
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under this subdivision and subdivision 1o
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.
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Notwithstanding subdivision 1o, the

commissioner must reduce the amount due under that subdivision as necessary to meet the

requirements of this paragraph.
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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective the day following final enactment and

applies to taxes payable for a registration period starting on or after January 1, 2027.

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Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 168.013, is amended by adding a subdivision to

read:

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Subd. 1o.

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Vehicle weight surcharge.

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(a) A vehicle weight surcharge is imposed on a

passenger automobile, as provided in the following weight surcharge schedule.

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Weight Surcharge Schedule

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Gross Vehicle Weight

Rating

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Surcharge

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0

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-

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1,500

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$

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0

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1,501

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-

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3,000

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20

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3,001

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-

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4,500

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40

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4,501

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-

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6,000

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60

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6,001

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-

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7,500

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80

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7,501

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-

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9,000

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100

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9,001 or higher

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120

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(b) The surcharge is in addition to the tax under subdivision 1a. The commissioner must

determine the weight rating from the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle, as indicated

on the manufacturer's certification label.

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(c) Notwithstanding subdivision 8, revenue collected under this subdivision must be

deposited in the highway user tax distribution fund.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective the day following final enactment and

applies to taxes payable for a registration period starting on or after January 1, 2027.

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Sec. 3.

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[325F.6648] NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES DISCLOSURE.

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(a) For purposes of this section, "new passenger vehicle" means a new motor vehicle as

defined in section 80E.03, subdivision 7, that is subject to registration as a passenger

automobile, as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 24, for operation in this state.

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(b) Before the sale of a new passenger vehicle, a dealer must disclose and describe to

the buyer:

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(1) the vehicle's weight rating and classification under section 168.013, subdivision 1o;

and

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(2) a summary of safety, environmental, and infrastructure impacts related to motor

vehicle weight.

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(c) The disclosure must be in a clear and conspicuous written statement that is approved

by the commissioner of commerce in consultation with the commissioner of transportation.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective January 1, 2027.

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Sec. 4.
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STUDY; MOTOR VEHICLE FRONT-END HEIGHT.
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(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given:

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(1) "passenger vehicle" means a passenger automobile, pickup truck, or one-ton pickup

truck, as the terms are defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 168.002, subdivisions 21b,

24, and 26; and

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(2) "vulnerable road user" means a vulnerable road user under Minnesota Statutes, section

169.011, subdivision 92b, or the operator and any passengers of a motorcycle, motorized

bicycle, or motorized foot scooter, as the terms are defined in Minnesota Statutes, section

169.011, subdivisions 44, 45, and 46.

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(b) By January 15, 2027, the commissioner of transportation must conduct a study on

motor vehicle front-end height and submit a copy to the chairs and ranking minority members

of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over transportation policy and finance. At a

minimum, the study must:

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(1) summarize passenger vehicle front end geometric design and pedestrian impact

requirements for motor vehicle manufacturers;

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(2) review trends in passenger vehicle front end geometric design, including but not

limited to resulting safety impacts for vulnerable road users; and

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(3) develop a methodology to identify or reasonably calculate front-end height

characteristics of passenger vehicles that is able be utilized by the commissioner of public

safety in conjunction with motor vehicle registration.

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Sec. 5.
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APPROPRIATION; MOTOR VEHICLE FRONT-END HEIGHT STUDY.
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$....... in fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the driver and vehicle services operating

account in the special revenue fund to the commissioner of transportation for the study on

motor vehicle front-end height under section 4. This is a onetime appropriation.

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