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Bill

HF 4642

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline special license plates established, and money appropriated.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Rick Hansen

Creates a Minnesota 988 Lifeline specialty license plate to fund 988 operations, crisis services, and related admin costs through plate revenue.

Introduction and first reading, referred to Transportation Finance and Policy
#appropriations #motorvehicles #transportationandtransportationdepartment
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Bill Summary · HF 4642

Summary of HF 4642 (2025-2026) — Minnesota

Overview

HF 4642 proposes the creation of a special license plate dedicated to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and provides funding through the sale of these plates. The bill establishes the plate, outlines eligibility and issuance details, and directs the use and allocation of the generated revenues.

Purpose and Intent

  • Establish a Minnesota 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline special license plate to raise awareness of the national 988 crisis line and to support related suicide prevention and crisis services in the state.
  • Create a dedicated funding stream to support programs, services, and administrative costs associated with mental health crisis response and suicide prevention.

Key Provisions

Plate Creation and Design

  • Creates a Minnesota special license plate featuring branding and messaging related to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
  • Sets eligibility, application, renewal, and fee collection processes consistent with other specialty plates (subject to Minnesota’s existing license plate framework).

Revenue and Allocation

  • Specifies that revenues from the sale of the 988 Lifeline plate (likely annual plate fee or surcharge, as determined by the bill’s detailed sections) will be deposited into a designated fund or account.
  • Directs how the funds may be used, prioritizing:
    • Support for 988 Lifeline operations and related crisis services in Minnesota
    • Mental health crisis intervention programs
    • Administrative costs necessary to administer the plate program
  • Includes potential annual reporting requirements to ensure transparency and accountability for fund use.

Administrative Provisions

  • Outlines responsibilities for the Department of Public Safety or another relevant state agency in administering the plate program (issuance, renewal, compliance, reporting).
  • May include sunset or renewal provisions for the program (e.g., automatic continuation unless terminated) and compliance with state law governing specialty plates.
  • Addresses conflict-of-interest or procurement considerations as applicable to a revenue-generating plate program.

Who Would Be Affected

Individuals

  • Minnesota drivers who choose to purchase or renew the 988 Lifeline license plate.
  • Plate-holders would pay the standard specialty plate surcharge/fee in addition to their regular vehicle registration fees (the exact amount to be specified in the bill).

Programs and Agencies

  • Minnesota Department of Public Safety (or designated agency) administering the plate program.
  • State mental health and crisis services programs that receive funding through the plate revenues.
  • Organizations involved in the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at the state or local level that may benefit from enhanced funding.

Timelines and Procedural Aspects

  • Referral: The bill was introduced and referred to the Transportation Finance and Policy committee on 2026-03-25.
  • Next steps: The committee may hold hearings, amend the bill, and advance it to the broader chamber for consideration. If enacted, the plate program would begin according to the timeline set forth in the bill (including any effective date and first-year funding availability).

Potential Impact

  • Increased public awareness of Minnesota’s support for mental health crisis resources via a high-visibility plate.
  • A dedicated funding stream to bolster 988 Lifeline operations and related crisis response services in Minnesota.
  • Additional administrative workload for the issuing agency and ongoing reporting to ensure accountability for how funds are used.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize fiscal details (e.g., exact fee amounts, fund name, and allocation percentages) or provide a comparison with other Minnesota specialty plates to place the fiscal and administrative impact in context.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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