HF 4995

03/23/26   REVISOR  CKM/MI  26-08249
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request  State of Minnesota
  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
  H. F. No.  4995
04/16/2026     Authored by Bliss
  The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
1.1A bill for an act
1.2relating to natural resources; modifying off-highway vehicle safety and conservation
1.3program and uses of off-highway vehicle accounts; amending Minnesota Statutes
1.42024, sections 84.794, subdivision 2; 84.803, subdivision 2; 84.9011, subdivision
1.52; 84.927, subdivision 2.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.794, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.8Subd. 2. Purposes. (a) Subject to appropriation by the legislature, money in the
1.9off-highway motorcycle account may only be spent for:
1.10(1) administration, enforcement, and implementation of sections 84.787 to 84.795;
1.11(2) acquisition, maintenance, and development of off-highway motorcycle trails and use
1.12areas;
1.13(3) grants-in-aid to counties and municipalities to construct and maintain off-highway
1.14motorcycle trails and use areas; and
1.15(4) grants for enforcement and public education to local law enforcement agencies.; and
1.16(5) grants to off-highway motorcycle organizations under section 84.9011, subdivision
1.172.
1.18(b) The distribution of funds made available for grants-in-aid must be guided by the
1.19statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan.
Section 1.  1
03/23/26   REVISOR  CKM/MI  26-08249
2.1    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.803, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.2      Subd. 2. Purposes. Subject to appropriation by the legislature, money in the off-road
2.3  vehicle account may only be spent for:
2.4      (1) administration, enforcement, and implementation of sections 84.773 to 84.8045;
2.5      (2) acquisition, maintenance, and development of off-road vehicle trails and use areas;
2.6      (3) grant-in-aid programs to counties and municipalities to construct and maintain
2.7  off-road vehicle trails and use areas;
2.8      (4) grants-in-aid to local safety programs; and
2.9      (5) enforcement and public education grants to local law enforcement agencies.; and
2.10     (6) grants to off-road vehicle organizations under section 84.9011, subdivision 2.
2.11   Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.9011, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.12     Subd. 2. Agreements; grants. (a) The commissioner shall enter into agreements with
2.13 and may provide grants to off-highway vehicle organizations for volunteer services that
2.14 promote the safe and responsible operation of off-highway vehicles in a manner that does
2.15 not harm the environment to maintain, make improvements to, and monitor trails on state
2.16 forest land and other public lands. The organizations shall promote the operation of
2.17 off-highway vehicles in a safe and responsible manner that complies with the laws and rules
2.18 that relate to the operation of off-highway vehicles.
2.19     (b) The organizations may provide assistance to the department in locating, recruiting,
2.20 and training instructors for off-highway vehicle training programs.
2.21     (c) The commissioner may provide assistance to enhance the comfort and safety of
2.22 volunteers participants and to facilitate the implementation and administration of the safety
2.23 and conservation program.
2.24     (d) The commissioner shall establish standards, train, and certify organizations and
2.25 individuals participating as volunteers under this section. The training shall include:
2.26     (1) the identification of invasive species;
2.27     (2) correctly reporting the location of invasive species; and
2.28     (3) basic global positioning system operation.
Sec. 3.  2
03/23/26   REVISOR  CKM/MI  26-08249
3.1      (e) Grants made under this section may be distributed to organizations using a formula
3.2  determined by the commissioner. Payments made to organizations may be made based on
3.3  the number of hours worked by participants.
3.4    Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.927, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
3.5      Subd. 2. Purposes. (a) Subject to appropriation by the legislature, money in the all-terrain
3.6  vehicle account may only be spent for:
3.7      (1) the education and training program under section 84.925;
3.8      (2) administration, enforcement, and implementation of sections 84.773 to 84.928;
3.9      (3) acquisition, maintenance, and development of vehicle trails and use areas;
3.10     (4) grant-in-aid programs to counties and municipalities to construct and maintain
3.11 all-terrain vehicle trails and use areas;
3.12     (5) grants-in-aid to local safety programs;
3.13     (6) enforcement and public education grants to local law enforcement agencies; and
3.14     (7) maintenance of minimum-maintenance forest roads designated under section 89.71,
3.15 subdivision 5, and county forest roads that are part of a designated trail system within state
3.16 forest boundaries as established under section 89.021.; and
3.17     (8) grants to all-terrain vehicle organizations under section 84.9011, subdivision 2.
3.18     (b) The distribution of funds made available through grant-in-aid programs must be
3.19 guided by the statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan.
Sec. 4.  3