MN SF2797

Shifts motor vehicle registration for school buses, intercity buses, and commuter vans from annual to biennial (every two years), with registration taxes doubled to maintain equivalent revenue (e.g., school bus tax changes from $25/year to $50 every two years), effective July 1, 2025

Increases minimum fines for failing to stop for a school bus stop-signal arm: $500 for first offense, $700 for second within 10 years, $950 for third or more; elevates to gross misdemeanor if driver passes on passenger side or when children are outside the bus, effective August 1, 2025

Requires the Commissioner of Public Safety to publish an annual school bus inspection report by February 15 each year, including infraction classifications, trend analysis, pass-fail rates, and identification of operators with recurrent violations

Expands the electric school bus grant program to include propane school buses, providing up to 75% cost coverage for propane bus purchases; also authorizes transit operators to conduct third-party testing for school bus drivers

Appropriates $8.4 million in fiscal year 2026 for grants to purchase and install school bus stop-signal arm camera systems, available until June 30, 2027