SF 3637

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 04/16/2026 11:40 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; clarifying that an optometrist may prescribe certain
window glazing materials; amending Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section
169.71, subdivision 4a.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 169.71, subdivision 4a, is amended
to read:

Subd. 4a.

Glazing material; exceptions.

(a) Subdivision 4 does not apply to glazing
materials that:

(1) have not been modified since the original installation, nor to original replacement
windows and windshields, that were originally installed or replaced in conformity with
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205;

(2) are required to satisfy prescription or medical needs, provided:

(i) the vehicle's driver or a passenger possesses a prescription or a physician's new text begin or
optometrist's new text end statement of medical need;

(ii) the prescription specifically states whether the medical need is a temporary or
permanent condition;

(iii) the prescription or statement specifically states the minimum percentage that light
transmittance may be reduced to satisfy the prescription or medical needs of the patient;
and

(iv) the prescription or statement contains an expiration date provided by the physician new text begin
or optometrist new text end , which must be no more than two years after the date the prescription or
statement was issued, unless an indication is made by the physician new text begin or optometrist new text end that the
driver's condition is permanent and no expiration date is appropriate; or

(3) are applied to:

(i) the rear windows of a pickup truck as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 26;

(ii) the rear windows or the side windows on either side behind the driver's seat of a van
as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 40;

(iii) the side and rear windows of a vehicle used to transport human remains by a funeral
establishment holding a license under section 149A.50;

(iv) the side and rear windows of a limousine as defined in section 168.002, subdivision
15; or

(v) the rear and side windows of a police vehicle.

(b) For the purposes of paragraph (a), clause (2), a driver of a vehicle may rely on a
prescription or physician's new text begin or optometrist's new text end statement of medical need issued to a person not
present in the vehicle if:

(1) the prescription or physician's new text begin or optometrist's new text end statement of medical need is issued
to (i) the driver's parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or spouse, or (ii) a person
for whom the driver is a personal care attendant;

(2) the prescription or physician's new text begin or optometrist's new text end statement of medical need specifies
the make, model, and license plate of one or two vehicles that will have tinted windows;
and

(3) the driver is in possession of the prescription or physician's new text begin or optometrist's new text end statement
of medical need.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective retroactively from July 1, 2025, and
applies to prescriptions issued on or after that date.
new text end