SF 1903

1st Engrossment - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 07/14/2025 09:18 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; requiring work zone safety and work zone driving rules
as driver education and driver examination subjects; requiring the driver's manual
to include work zone safety information; authorizing rulemaking; appropriating
money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 171.01, by adding a
subdivision; 171.0701, by adding a subdivision; 171.0705, by adding a subdivision;
171.13, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 171.01, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 52. new text end

new text begin Work zone. new text end

new text begin "Work zone" has the meaning given in section 169.011,
subdivision 95.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 171.0701, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 1c. new text end

new text begin Driver education; work zone safety. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must adopt rules for
persons enrolled in driver education programs offered at public schools, private schools,
and commercial driver training schools to require inclusion of a section on work zone and
road construction worker safety in the course of instruction. The instruction must include
information on:
new text end

new text begin (1) safe speeds in work zones, including speeds when workers are present;
new text end

new text begin (2) the specific duties of a driver when encountering, entering, traveling through, and
exiting a work zone;
new text end

new text begin (3) the dangers of distracted driving through work zones;
new text end

new text begin (4) the legal markings of a work zone, including flagging, traffic control devices, barrels,
lights, or other signage that indicate the segment of street or highway under construction,
reconstruction, or maintenance; and
new text end

new text begin (5) safely merging into travel lanes when a lane is closed due to construction,
reconstruction, or maintenance.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2026.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 171.0705, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end

new text begin Driver's manual; work zone safety. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must include in each
edition of the driver's manual published by the department a section relating to work zone
safety and road construction worker safety that, at a minimum, includes:
new text end

new text begin (1) traffic laws related to work zone safety, including work zone speed limits and the
surcharge imposed for a person convicted of speeding in a work zone;
new text end

new text begin (2) commonly used work zone markings and traffic control devices;
new text end

new text begin (3) traffic laws related to distracted driving, with an emphasis on the dangers of distracted
driving in work zones; and
new text end

new text begin (4) lane merger benefits and best practices, including information on motorists safely
merging from two lanes into a single lane of traffic when a lane is closed due to construction,
reconstruction, or maintenance.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment and
applies to the next published edition of the driver's manual published on or after that date.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 171.13, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Examination subjects and locations; provisions for color blindness,
disabled veterans.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the commissioner must
examine each applicant for a driver's license by such agency as the commissioner directs.
This examination must include:

(1) a test of the applicant's eyesight, provided that this requirement is met by submission
of a vision examination certificate under section 171.06, subdivision 7;

(2) a test of the applicant's ability to read and understand highway signs regulating,
warning, and directing traffic;

(3) a test of the applicant's knowledge of new text begin :
new text end

(i) traffic laws;

(ii) the effects of alcohol and drugs on a driver's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely
and legally, and of the legal penalties and financial consequences resulting from violations
of laws prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol
or drugs;

(iii) railroad grade crossing safety;

(iv) slow-moving vehicle safety;

(v) laws relating to pupil transportation safety, including the significance of school bus
lights, signals, stop arm, and passing a school bus;

(vi) traffic laws related to bicycles; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(vii) the circumstances and dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning; new text begin and
new text end

new text begin (viii) work zone and road construction worker safety, including work zone speed limits,
work zone markings, vehicle operation requirements in work zones, and the dangers of
distracted driving in work zones;
new text end

(4) an actual demonstration of ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the
operation of a motor vehicle; and

(5) other physical and mental examinations as the commissioner finds necessary to
determine the applicant's fitness to operate a motor vehicle safely upon the highways.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the commissioner must not deny an application for
a driver's license based on the exclusive grounds that the applicant's eyesight is deficient in
color perception or that the applicant has been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. War veterans
operating motor vehicles especially equipped for disabled persons, if otherwise entitled to
a license, must be granted such license.

(c) The commissioner must ensure that an applicant may take an exam either in the
county where the applicant resides or in an adjacent county at a reasonably convenient
location. The schedule for each exam station must be posted on the department's website.

(d) The commissioner deleted text begin shall deleted text end new text begin must new text end ensure that an applicant is able to obtain an appointment
for an examination to demonstrate ability under paragraph (a), clause (4), within 14 days
of the applicant's request if, under the applicable statutes and rules of the commissioner,
the applicant is eligible to take the examination.

(e) The commissioner must provide real-time information on the department's website
about the availability and location of exam appointments. The website must show the next
available exam dates and times for each exam station. The website must also provide an
option for a person to enter an address to see the date and time of the next available exam
at each exam station sorted by distance from the address provided.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2027, and applies to
examinations administered on or after that date.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the driver and vehicle services operating
account in the special revenue fund to the commissioner of public safety for costs related
to:
new text end

new text begin (1) rulemaking to implement the requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 171.0701,
subdivision 1c; and
new text end

new text begin (2) incorporating work zone safety information into the driver's manual and written
examination for a driver's license under Minnesota Statutes, sections 171.0705, subdivision
2a, and 171.13, subdivision 1.
new text end

new text begin This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2027.
new text end