1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; providing new regulations related to animal-drawn 
1.3 	vehicles and overdimensional load vehicles;amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, 
1.4 	sections 169.035, subdivision 3; 169.18, subdivision 10; 169.522, subdivision 1; 
1.5 	169.58, by adding a subdivision; 169.812, subdivision 2.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 169.035, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.8 		Subd. 3.Transportation by animal. Every A person riding an animal or driving any 
1.9 	animal drawing a operating an animal-drawn vehicle upon a roadway shall be is subject to 
1.10 	the provisions of this chapter applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except those provisions 
1.11 	which by their nature can have no application. A person operating an animal-drawn vehicle 
1.12 	must comply with sections 169.18, subdivision 10; 169.522; and 169.58, subdivision 6.

1.13 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 169.18, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
1.14 		Subd. 10.Slower vehicles. (a) Upon a roadway with one lane in the direction of travel, 
1.15 	a person proceeding at a speed that is sufficiently low as to create a traffic hazard, including 
1.16 	when operating an animal-drawn vehicle upon a roadway or shoulder of a roadway, must 
1.17 	operate the vehicle as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
1.18 	(b) Upon a roadway with more than one lane in the same direction of travel, a person 
1.19 	must move out of the left-most lane to allow another vehicle to pass, when practicable under 
1.20 	existing conditions. A left-most lane under this paragraph is the lane adjacent to one 
1.21 	designated and posted for a specific type of traffic, including as provided under section 
1.22 	160.93. This paragraph does not apply when:
2.1 	(1) overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction;
2.2 	(2) preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway;
2.3 	(3) preparing to exit a controlled-access highway on the left side of the road;
2.4 	(4) the lane is designated and posted for a specific type of traffic; or
2.5 	(5) the vehicle is an authorized emergency vehicle.

2.6 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 169.522, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.7 		Subdivision 1.Displaying emblem; rules. (a) All animal-drawn vehicles, motorized 
2.8 	golf carts when operated on designated roadways pursuant to section 169.045, implements 
2.9 	of husbandry, and other machinery, including all road construction machinery, which are 
2.10 	designed for operation at a speed of 30 miles per hour or less, must display a triangular 
2.11 	slow-moving vehicle emblem, except (1) when being used in actual construction and 
2.12 	maintenance work and traveling within the limits of a construction area marked in accordance 
2.13 	with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as set forth in section 169.06, or (2) 
2.14 	for a towed implement of husbandry that is empty and that is not self-propelled, in which 
2.15 	case it may be towed at lawful speeds greater than 30 miles per hour without removing the 
2.16 	slow-moving vehicle emblem. The emblem must consist of a fluorescent or illuminated 
2.17 	red-orange triangle with a dark red reflective border and be mounted so as to be visible from 
2.18 	a distance of not less than 600 feet to the rear. When a primary power unit towing an 
2.19 	implement of husbandry or other machinery displays a slow-moving vehicle emblem visible 
2.20 	from a distance of 600 feet to the rear, it is not necessary to display a similar emblem on 
2.21 	the secondary unit. All slow-moving vehicle emblems sold in this state must be so designed 
2.22 	that when properly mounted they are visible from a distance of not less than 600 feet to the 
2.23 	rear when directly in front of lawful lower beam of headlamps on a motor vehicle. The 
2.24 	commissioner of public safety shall adopt standards and specifications for the design and 
2.25 	position of mounting the slow-moving vehicle emblem. Such standards and specifications 
2.26 	must be adopted by rule in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.
2.27 	(b) An alternate slow-moving vehicle emblem consisting of a dull black triangle with a 
2.28 	white reflective border may be used after obtaining a permit from the commissioner under 
2.29 	rules of the commissioner. A person with a permit to use an alternate slow-moving vehicle 
2.30 	emblem must:
2.31 	(1) carry in the vehicle a regular slow-moving vehicle emblem and display the emblem 
2.32 	when operating a vehicle between sunset and sunrise, and at any other time when visibility 
2.33 	is impaired by weather, smoke, fog, or other conditions; and
3.1 	(2) permanently affix to the rear of the slow-moving vehicle at least 72 square inches 
3.2 	of reflective tape that reflects the color red.
3.3 	(c) In addition to the emblem requirement under this subdivision, an animal-drawn 
3.4 	vehicle must comply with section 169.58, subdivision 6.

3.5 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 169.58, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
3.6 	read:
3.7 		Subd. 6.Animal-drawn vehicles. (a) An animal-drawn vehicle must be equipped with 
3.8 	an identification lamp or lamps that indicate the vehicle's presence and are visible from a 
3.9 	distance of at least 500 feet from both the front and the rear. The lighting requirement under 
3.10 	this subdivision may be met using a lamp powered by energy generated from the vehicle's 
3.11 	movement.
3.12 	(b) This subdivision does not apply to an animal-drawn vehicle that: (1) operates 
3.13 	exclusively between the hours of sunrise and sunset and never during periods of reduced 
3.14 	visibility, inclement weather, or insufficient light; or (2) never operates on a public roadway.

3.15 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 169.812, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
3.16 		Subd. 2.Escort vehicles required; width. (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (d) and 
3.17 	(e), no escort vehicle is required if the width of an overdimensional load is 15 feet or less 
3.18 	as measured at the bottom of the load or is 16 feet or less as measured at the top of the load.
3.19 	(b) Only one rear escort vehicle is required on a multilane divided roadway if the width 
3.20 	of an overdimensional load is more than 15 feet as measured at the bottom of the load or is 
3.21 	more than 16 feet as measured at the top of the load.
3.22 	(c) Only one lead escort vehicle and one rear escort vehicle is required on any undivided 
3.23 	roadway if the width of an overdimensional load is more than 15 feet as measured at the 
3.24 	bottom of the load or is more than 16 feet as measured at the top of the load.
3.25 	(d) Only One lead escort vehicle, one rear escort vehicle, and one lead licensed peace 
3.26 	officer is required when any part of an overdimensional load or a vehicle transporting an 
3.27 	overdimensional load extends beyond the left of the centerline on an undivided roadway.
3.28 	(e) The commissioner may require additional escorts when deemed necessary to protect 
3.29 	public safety or to ensure against undue damage to the road foundations, surfaces, or 
3.30 	structures. The commissioner must specify in the permit (1) the number of additional escorts 
3.31 	required; and (2) whether the operators of the escort vehicles must be licensed peace officers 
3.32 	or may be escort drivers, as defined in subdivision 1.

4.1 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

4.2 	Sec. 6. ANIMAL-DRAWN VEHICLES; SAFETY MANUAL.
 4.3 	(a) The commissioner of public safety, in collaboration with the Department of 
4.4 	Transportation, State Patrol, traffic safety organizations, and other interested parties, must 
4.5 	develop and publish an animal-drawn vehicles safety manual. When developing the manual, 
4.6 	the commissioner must evaluate similar manuals already published by other states.
4.7 	(b) At a minimum, the safety manual must discuss and provide specific guidance with 
4.8 	respect to:
4.9 	(1) animal-drawn vehicle courtesy and conduct;
4.10 	(2) relevant traffic regulations, including traffic signs, traffic signals, pavement markings, 
4.11 	driving rules, and equipment requirements;
4.12 	(3) an overview of how other vehicles and motorists interact with animal-drawn vehicles 
4.13 	on the roadway;
4.14 	(4) safety best practices;
4.15 	(5) travel information; and
4.16 	(6) any other information the commissioner deems necessary.
4.17 	(c) The commissioner must publish the manual under this section on or before January 
4.18 	1, 2022.
4.19 	(d) The manual under this section is not an administrative rule under Minnesota Statutes, 
4.20 	chapter 14. The commissioner is exempt from provisions of that chapter with respect to any 
4.21 	activities taken under this section.

4.22 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.