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SF 5172

Off-highway vehicle safety and conservation program and uses of off-highway vehicle accounts modification

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Grant Hauschild

The bill updates ORV/ATV funds to support trail development, enforcement, safety education, and volunteer programs aligned with a statewide outdoor recreation plan.

Referred to Environment, Climate, and Legacy
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Bill Summary · SF 5172

Summary of SF 5172 (2025-2026) — Off-Highway Vehicle Safety and Conservation Program and Uses of Off-Highway Vehicle Accounts

Overview

SF 5172, authored by Senator Hauschild, would modify Minnesota statutes related to the Off-Highway Motorcycle, Off-Road Vehicle (ORV), and All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) accounts and the safety and conservation program. The bill provides updated purposes for each account, clarifying allowable expenditures and grant structures, and expands coordination with local agencies and volunteer organizations to promote safe operation, habitat protection, and trail development.

Purpose and Intent

  • To specify and update how funds from off-highway motorcycle, off-road vehicle, and all-terrain vehicle accounts may be spent, with an emphasis on safety, conservation, trail development, local enforcement, and education.
  • To authorize grants and agreements with nonprofit ORV/OTV organizations to support volunteer-driven safety, training, trail maintenance, and environmental protection efforts on state and public lands.
  • To ensure funds are allocated in alignment with the statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan.

Key Provisions

Section 1 — Off-Highway Motorcycle Account (Minnesota Statutes 2024, § 84.794, subd. 2)

  • Authorized expenditures (subject to legislative appropriation) include:
    1. Administration, enforcement, and implementation of sections 84.787 to 84.795.
    2. Acquisition, maintenance, and development of off-highway motorcycle trails and use areas.
    3. Grants-in-aid to counties and municipalities for trail/use area construction and maintenance.
    4. Grants for enforcement and public education to local law enforcement.
    5. Grants to off-highway motorcycle organizations under § 84.9011, subd. 2.
  • Grant distribution should follow the statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan.

Section 2 — Off-Road Vehicle Account (Minnesota Statutes 2024, § 84.803, subd. 2)

  • Authorized expenditures (subject to appropriation) include:
    1. Administration, enforcement, and implementation of sections 84.773 to 84.8045.
    2. Acquisition, maintenance, and development of ORV trails and use areas.
    3. Grant-in-aid programs to counties and municipalities for trail/use area construction and maintenance.
    4. Grants-in-aid to local safety programs.
    5. Enforcement and public education grants to local law enforcement.
    6. Grants to off-road vehicle organizations under § 84.9011, subd. 2.
  • Grant distribution guided by the statewide plan.

Section 3 — ORV Organizations Grants (Minnesota Statutes 2024, § 84.9011, subd. 2)

  • The commissioner may enter into agreements and provide grants to ORV organizations for volunteer services that promote safe and environmentally responsible operation on state forest lands and other public lands.
  • Organizations may assist the department in locating, recruiting, and training instructors for ORV training programs.
  • The commissioner may assist in enhancing volunteer comfort and safety and facilitate program administration.
  • The commissioner shall establish standards and certify organizations and volunteers. Training topics include:
    • Invasive species identification and reporting.
    • Basic GPS operation.
  • Grants to organizations may be distributed using a formula determined by the commissioner, with payments possibly based on hours worked by participants.

Section 4 — All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Account (Minnesota Statutes 2024, § 84.927, subd. 2)

  • Authorized expenditures (subject to appropriation) include:
    1. Education and training program under § 84.925.
    2. Administration, enforcement, and implementation of sections 84.773 to 84.928.
    3. Acquisition, maintenance, and development of ATV trails and use areas.
    4. Grant-in-aid programs to counties and municipalities for ATV trails and use areas.
    5. Grants-in-aid to local safety programs.
    6. Enforcement and public education grants to local law enforcement.
    7. Maintenance of minimum-maintenance forest roads designated under forestry statutes and county forest roads that are part of designated trail systems within state forest boundaries.
    8. Grants to ATV organizations under § 84.9011, subd. 2.
  • Grant distribution must be guided by the statewide plan.

Who Is Affected

  • State agencies administering ORV/ATV programs, including the Department of Natural Resources.
  • Local governments (counties and municipalities) receiving grants for trail construction, maintenance, and safety programs.
  • Local law enforcement agencies receiving enforcement and public education grants.
  • Off-highway motorcycle, off-road vehicle, and all-terrain vehicle organizations that operate volunteer programs and training.
  • Volunteers and instructors participating in ORV/ATV safety and conservation activities.
  • Public lands managers overseeing state forest lands and other public lands used for ORV/ATV activities.

Procedural and Timeline Notes

  • Provisions are described as “subject to appropriation by the legislature,” meaning funding must be approved in annual or supplemental budgets.
  • The bill references the statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan to guide grant distribution, ensuring planning alignment.
  • Introduced and referred on 04/20/2026 to the Environment, Climate, and Legacy committee.

Bottom Line

SF 5172 modernizes and clarifies the purposes and eligible uses of ORV-related funds, expands support for volunteer-driven safety and conservation programs, updates funding streams to include broader ATV/ORV trail development and enforcement needs, and emphasizes environmental stewardship and data-driven grant allocations aligned with a statewide recreation plan.

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

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