SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5831
As of January 18, 2024
Title: An act relating to providing permanent registration for vintage snowmobiles.
Brief Description: Providing permanent registration for vintage snowmobiles.
Sponsors: Senators Hawkins, Holy, Lovick, Wellman and Wilson, J..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/18/24.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Creates a new permanent vintage snowmobile registration option.
  • Specifies the distribution of the fee associated with the permanent vintage snowmobile registration.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Staff: Bryon Moore (786-7726)
Background:

Snowmobiles operating in the state must be registered with the Department of Licensing (DOL) and must display a snowmobile decal.  A vintage snowmobile is defined as a snowmobile that was manufactured at least 30 years ago. The annual registration fee for vintage snowmobiles is $12. The registration fees are deposited in the Snowmobile Account which is used for snowmobile-related programs and activities.

 

In addition to the annual registration fee, a vintage snowmobile registration transaction is also subject to the following annual fees:

  • an $8.00 for registration service fee which, depending on where the transaction occurs, is deposited into the Capital Vessel Replacement Account or is retained by a licensing subagent;
  • a $4.50 filing which is usually distributed to the county where the transaction occurs for deposit in their general fund;
  • a $0.50 license service fee which is deposited in the Department of Licensing Services Account; and
  • a $0.25 license plate technology fee which is deposited in the License Plate Technology Account.

 

The total of these combined fees means that generally a vintage snowmobile is subject to $25.25 in annual fees.

 

According to DOL, there were 204 vintage snowmobiles registered in fiscal year 2023.
Summary of Bill:

The bill as referred to committee not considered.
Summary of Bill (Proposed Substitute):

A new permanent vintage snowmobile registration option is created. A vintage snowmobile in good working order used only for participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours, and parades, and for occasional pleasure use, may be issued a permanent vintage registration.  A snowmobile with a permanent vintage registration is exempt from annual registration renewal requirements.

 

The fee for the permanent vintage snowmobile registration is $70.00 which is distributed as follows:

  • $35.76 to the Snowmobile Account;
  • $8.91 which will usually be distributed to the county where the transaction occurs for deposit in their general fund;
  • $23.84 which, depending on where the transaction occurs, will either be deposited in the Capital Vessel Replacement Account or retained by a licensing subagent;
  • $0.99 to the Department of Licensing Services Account; and
  • $0.50 to the License Plate Technology Account.

 

The permanent vintage snowmobile registration transaction would also be subject to the $4.50 filing fee, the $0.50 license service fee, and the $0.25 license plate technology fee.  The one-time combined fees for the newly created permanent vintage snowmobile registration totals $75.25.

 

A vintage snowmobile with a permanent vintage registration must display a vintage snowmobile decal assigned by DOL.  A violation of these requirements is a traffic infraction with a maximum fine of $150.

 

The permanent vintage registration expires when the vintage snowmobile changes ownership, is permanently removed from the state, or is otherwise disposed of.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on August 1, 2025.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony On Proposed Substitute:

PRO:  Vintage snowmobiles are special and there is a group of individuals that want to keep them because of their historic value.  Some of these vintage snowmobiles also have personal significance.  This bill gives the vintage snowmobile owners an additional option, not a requirement, to get a permanent vintage registration.  The cost and relatively small revenue might be mitigated by the fact that some vintage snowmobilers might not be registering now.  If these vintage snowmobilers start registering under the new system, there would be a positive fiscal impact.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Brad Hawkins, Prime Sponsor.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.