This bill focuses on enhancing work zone safety and modifying requirements for provisional driver's licenses in Minnesota. It introduces new specifications for work zone flaggers, mandating that the commissioner include a bid item for flagging hours in live traffic contracts, which involve construction or maintenance work where traffic lanes remain open. Additionally, the bill establishes a work zone and first responder safety course that must be completed by provisional license applicants, ensuring they are educated on best practices and responsibilities in work zones. The driver's manual will also be updated to include a section on safe operation in work zones.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the criteria for obtaining a provisional driver's license, requiring applicants to complete the aforementioned safety course and clarifying the conditions under which a provisional license may be denied. It also initiates a billboard design contest aimed at educating youth about work zone safety, encouraging them to create designs that will be displayed on billboards statewide. The effective dates for these provisions vary, with some set to take effect in 2025 and others in 2026, ensuring a phased implementation of these safety measures.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 161.32, 171.055, 171.0701, 171.0705