S.F. No. 2321 Summary

• Establishes an Advisory Council on Traffic Safety with 31 member positions representing state agencies, law enforcement, transportation organizations, and vulnerable road users to advise on traffic safety policies and lead the state Toward Zero Deaths program.

• Creates "safe road zones" allowing the transportation commissioner to designate high-risk street or highway segments based on crash history, excessive speed, and pedestrian safety concerns, with the advisory council recommending safety measures including signage, roadway design modifications, and enforcement efforts.

• Permits temporary or permanent speed limit adjustments in safe road zones based on engineering and traffic investigation, separate from standard speed limit provisions.

• Increases penalties for second or subsequent wireless device violations while driving to $275 and requires the commissioner of public safety to report annually by January 2 on Minnesota road and transportation safety, including injury and fatality data and recommended improvements.

• Appropriates $37.725 million for fiscal years 2024-2025, including $8 million for the Advisory Council, $2.75 million for safe road zones, $20 million for rural high-risk roadway improvements, and $1 million for enhanced traffic safety enforcement.