This bill introduces an outdoor recreation license plate endorsement in Minnesota, which will allow access to state parks and recreation areas for specific motor vehicles, including passenger cars, noncommercial one-ton pickup trucks, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles. The endorsement will be available upon vehicle registration or annual renewal and will require a sticker to be affixed to the license plate. The bill also establishes an outdoor recreation endorsement account within the natural resources fund to manage the revenue generated from endorsement fees, which will be allocated for the operation and maintenance of the state park system.

Key provisions of the bill include the requirement for a valid outdoor recreation endorsement sticker for entry into state parks, the establishment of self-service kiosks for issuing these stickers, and an exemption from the endorsement fee for certain veterans. The endorsement will be effective starting January 1, 2027, with fees starting at $15 for registrations between 2027 and 2028, increasing to $19 for registrations on or after January 1, 2031. The bill also outlines the design requirements for the endorsement sticker, specifies ineligible vehicles, and mandates public information dissemination about the endorsement's benefits. An appropriation is included to fund the implementation of this initiative.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 85.053, 168.002, 168.012, 168.0135, 168.09, 168.12, 168.27, 168.29, 169.79