HF 341 Minnesota House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Penalties enhanced and minimum fines established for repeat violations of driving without a valid license.

HF 341 amends Minnesota Statutes section 171.24 to establish minimum fines and enhance penalties for repeat driving without a valid license. It specifically targets individuals convicted of driving while license is suspended, revoked, or canceled who: (1) cause injury or death in a collision, or (2) have prior convictions for similar offenses within 10 years. The bill sets a minimum fine amount for these repeat violations, raising them to gross misdemeanor level when the specified conditions are met. This directly affects drivers with repeated license violations who operate vehicles without authorization. The changes apply to offenses under existing statutes related to license suspension, revocation, or disqualification.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 13, 2025 Last action Apr 7, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction 1st Engrossment · 3 edits · Apr 4, 2025
MINOR
The bill was updated from its introduction to its first engrossment version, reflecting a revision in how penalties are applied to repeat offenders. The most significant change is the redefinition of a 'qualified violation' to specifically include collisions causing serious injury or death, alongside a list of specific traffic laws that trigger enhanced penalties. This ensures that drivers who cause severe accidents while unlicensed face stricter consequences than those who simply drive without a license.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed regarding the definition of a 'qualified violation' by removing a broad catch-all for other violations and instead explicitly listing specific statutes and adding a condition for collisions causing substantial bodily harm or death.
DEFINITION

The definition of a 'qualified violation' was changed to require either a collision causing substantial bodily harm, great bodily harm, or death, or a violation of one of several specifically listed traffic statutes.

ENFORCEMENT

New subsections were added to clarify that violations of specific chapters and laws from other states similar to Minnesota's are included in the enhanced penalty provisions.

REQUIREMENT

The previous broad language allowing any violation of certain chapters to count was replaced with a more specific list of statutes to ensure precise application of the enhanced penalties.

Floor votes · House Apr 3, 2025

How they voted

11914
Passed
Total votes 133
Apr 3, 2025
D Democratic66
52 Yea 14 Nay
78% Yea
R Republican67
67 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
4
Committee
3
Amendments
1
Apr 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Introduced
Introduction and first reading
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Introduced
Received from House
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
Bill was passed as amended
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report, to adopt
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report, to adopt and re-refer to Transportation Finance and Policy
lower
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced
Introduction and first reading, referred to Public Safety Finance and Policy
lower
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors

Sponsors