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Bill Summary · SF 4782

Summary of SF 4782 (2025-2026) – Minnesota: Grandparent Special License Plate Establishment Provision and Appropriation

Overview

SF 4782 proposes the creation of a new special license plate to recognize and honor grandparents, along with a dedicated appropriation to support related program administration and activities. The bill was introduced and referred to the Transportation Committee on March 25, 2026. It lists several co-sponsors from both major parties, signaling cross-cutting interest in the policy goal.

Purpose and Intent

  • Establish a state-issued, special license plate design to recognize grandparents.
  • Create a mechanism for revenue and program funding that would support activities or programs related to grandparents (the exact uses are typically directed through the appropriation section of the bill or related statutes).
  • Provide a visible emblem of appreciation for the role of grandparents in families and communities.

Key Provisions (likely components based on typical “grandparent plate” bills)

Note: The precise text of SF 4782 is not provided, but bills of this type commonly include:
1. Establishment of a Grandparent License Plate Design
- Authorization for the Department of Public Safety (or the Minnesota Department of Public Safety in collaboration with the Department of Revenue) to create a specialty license plate featuring a design that honors grandparents.
2. Fees and Revenue Allocation
- A one-time plate issuance fee and an annual plate renewal fee (specific dollar amounts typically set in statute or annual appropriation).
- A portion of fees allocated to a dedicated fund or program related to grandparent-focused activities, education, or services (e.g., community programs, outreach, or support initiatives).
3. Program Administration
- Design approval process, production timeline, and distribution mechanisms for the plate.
- Reporting or accountability requirements for the use of funds generated by the plate.
4. Eligibility and Enrollment
- Standard license plate eligibility rules applying to the special plate, including vehicle type eligibility, plate assignment, and transferability upon sale of the vehicle.
5. Effective Date and Sunset (if applicable)
- Effective date for when the plate would become available and any sunset provisions if the program is temporary (less common for specialty plates but possible).

Affected Parties

  • Vehicle Owners/Residents: Individuals who wish to obtain the Grandparent plate when announcing their vehicles for display.
  • Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS): Likely responsible for approving and issuing the plate design and managing plate production and issuance.
  • State Treasury/Appropriations Authority: If the bill designates funds from plate fees to a specific program, state fiscal staff would administer the appropriation and reporting.
  • Grandparent Community and Related Programs: Beneficiaries of the designated funds, including organizations and initiatives that support grandparents or family services (depending on the exact authorized uses).

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction and Referral: March 25, 2026 – Referred to Transportation.
  • Legislative Path: As a transportation-related bill proposing a specialty plate, SF 4782 would advance through the Transportation Committee, potentially followed by the Ways and Means committee if an appropriation is involved, and then to the full Senate for consideration.
  • Effective Date: If enacted, the plate would become available after the bill’s passage and the department’s administrative timeline for implementing new specialty plates. Specific dates would be defined in the final bill text.

Notes

  • The exact fee amounts, design specifications, eligible uses of funds, and any sunset or renewal provisions are not included in the summary because the full fiscal and fiscal-note details are not provided here. The final text would clarify these elements.
  • Co-sponsors include both partisan and bipartisan members: Sandy Pappas, Mary Kunesh-Podein, Glenn Gruenhagen, Karin Housley, and Jim Abeler, indicating cross-party interest in the concept.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to focus on a particular aspect (e.g., fiscal impact, design approval process, or programmatic uses) once the bill text or fiscal note is available.

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

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