This bill amends Minnesota Statutes to provide fee exemptions for motor vehicles bearing special plates for Purple Heart medal recipients. It introduces a new section, 168.1245, which outlines the issuance and design of these special plates, stating that they will bear the inscription "COMBAT WOUNDED VET" and include a facsimile of the Purple Heart medal. The bill specifies that these plates will be issued free of charge to qualified applicants, who must be registered owners of a passenger automobile, motorcycle, or recreational vehicle and comply with existing vehicle registration rules. Additionally, the bill allows for the transfer of these plates to another qualified vehicle without a fee.

The bill also makes several amendments to existing statutes, including the removal of certain language regarding the eligibility and design of special plates for combat-wounded veterans. Specifically, it deletes previous provisions that required the plates to bear the inscription "COMBAT WOUNDED VET" and an emblem of the Purple Heart medal, while also clarifying that special plates issued under this new section are exempt from certain regulations regarding the discontinuance of plate issuance. Overall, the bill aims to honor Purple Heart recipients by providing them with special vehicle registration plates at no cost.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 168.12, 168.123, 168.1293