– MnUSA supports tourism budget increase and the creation of a separate tourism department

 – Legislature requests Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Commissioner to present a plan of consideration for combining Trails & Waterways and Parks & Recreation. MnUSA opposes

– MnUSA is successful in getting legislation passed giving municipalities limited liability in lawsuits based on their participation in the grant-in-aid program

– MnUSA supports appropriation of funds for purchase and development of Paul Bunyan Trail and Bemidji to International Falls Blue Ox Trail

– Registration fee increased from $18 to $30 for 3 years to fund trails

– MnUSA is successful in getting legislation passed, limiting liability of snowmobile clubs and allowing them the same protection as municipalities

– Legislature passes stronger landowner liability bill. Landowners who open their land for snowmobiling are now better off legally than if the land remained closed to snowmobiling

– Registration fee increases from $30 to $45 for 3 years

– Legislature changes law regarding training for youthful operation

– Non-resident snowmobile trail permit required

– Legislature passes complete ban on studs effective 1999-2000.

– MnUSA leads initiative and successfully reverses stud ban. Nearly 40,000 signatures were collected supporting MnUSA’s position

– Legislature passes increase in unrefunded gas tax to 1%

– Successful in protecting gas tax at 1% of unrefunded gas tax. This provided funding for over 2500 club trails to be added into the grant-in-aid system.

2003-2005 – MnUSA successfully protected the funds in the snowmobile dedicated account from raids during the budget crunch where all funds were available to cover the deficit.

There is a $1.5 million appropriation for 2006-07 to go to clubs in the grant-in-aid system.

2004-2005 – MnUSA successful in obtaining legislation which allows for two-way snowmobile trails in road rights of way, where necessary and appropriate, with consent of the local road authority. This is a safety issue on many trails where the road ditch is two steep or has obstacles that would hinder snowmobiling.

 – MnUSA supports increased funding to the clubs for grant-in-aid trails. The legislature provided this additional funding through a trail pass for all grant-in-aid and state trail users. The enabling legislation provided that these funds could only be used for grant-in- aid, trail maintenance, grooming, and easement acquisition.

In 2005-06 designated trails were added to the grant-in-aid system on major lakes in St. Louis, Cook and Koochiching County and statewide the clubs were given a 20% increase in their grants.

2007-08 – MnUSA successfully promotes legislation to appropriate an increase in grant-in-aid funding to the clubsfor trail maintenance and grooming.

– MnUSA successful in opposing legislation to revoke payment to snowmobile dedicated account of unrefunded gas tax on snowmobile fuel

2009-18 – MnUSA prevents raids on dedicated account and protects funding sources.

– MnUSA successful in obtaining legislation to combine the trail pass and registration into one sticker and dedicating a greater percentage of the funds to grant-in-aid trail maintenance.

– MnUSA successful in obtaining legislation that allows studded snowmobile tracks on asphalt state trails unless DNR Commissioner determines it is not appropriate on trail by trail basis.

– MnUSA leads other non-profit trail groups to obtain legislation reducing the tort liability limit on recreational trails to $1 million.

 – MnUSA works with federal legislators to obtain continued funding for the Federal Recreational Trails Program which is funded by a portion of federal off-road gas tax.

– MnUSA works with coalitions to protect access to private lands and protect snowmobile rentals

– MnUSA successful in obtaining sales tax exemption on grooming equipment allowing non-profit grant-in-aid clubs additional funds to spend on trails.

 – MnUSA successful in obtaining legislation to prohibit tampering of odometers on recreational vehicles.

 – MnUSA, with support of DNR, redefines a snowmobile to more clearly explain what vehicles can use snowmobile trails, providing safer trails for the users.

 – MnUSA supports no registration requirement for snowmobiles 125 cc or less for non-trail use.

– MnUSA successful in designating David Dill Memorial Trails.

2022-2023 – MnUSA and it OHV partners were successful in raising the fines for trespass in an effort to protect motorized recreational access for both civil and criminal offenses.

– MnUSA successful in legislation for safer road crossings and bills of sales signed by current owner on sales.

– MnUSA successful in legislation for increased penalties and fines on illegal snowmobile exhaust pipes.

– Taconite Trail dedicated

 – First of 4 quadrant maps published in cooperative effort of DNR Trails & Waterways, MnUSA and the snowmobile manufacturers

1988-1989 – Through cooperation with the International Snowmobile Council, provides liability insurance for trail associations

– First annual Governor’s Ride with Governor Rudy Perpich in Bemidji sponsored by Arctic Cat

 – Governor Perpich forms Snowmobile Task Force – “As an industry and an activity, snowmobile tourism has become so important to Minnesota economy.”

 – CanAm Trail opening

1992-1993 – Paul Bunyan Trail link between Brainerd and Bemidji open for snowmobiling

1995-1996 – Minnesota Interconnected Trail System (MITS) established with major east/west and north/south routes

 – Minnesota Snowmobile Advisory Council (MSAC) created from a cross section of snowmobile related interests

– 65/35 Implementation Plan and additional snowmobile funding solutions released

– Statewide Snowmobile Trail Plan released

– Pilot program initiated to create a Performance Based Grant Program guaranteeing clubs grant payments, even in “no snow” years

 – Statewide Snowmobile Trail System Plan Update released.

2002-2009 – MnUSA hosts a Governor’s Ride and State Legislative Rides at the MnUSA Rendezvous to bring understanding of recreational snowmobiling to participants.

– MnUSA contracts with the University of Minnesota to complete a snowmobile economic impact study. Study shows snowmobiling to be a $1 billion business in Minnesota and helps to create awareness of the need to support the snowmobile trail system in Minnesota.

 – MnUSA Works with DNR on development of statewide performance grant-in-aid program for clubs and funding for trail maintenance and grooming

– MnUSA initiates corridor trail signing program for ease of travel by snowmobile across the state.

– MnUSA supports increased funding to DNR for grooming on state trails.

 – MnUSA supports DNR legislation to allow for a mentoring program for non-snowmobilers to test ride snowmobiles.

– MnUSA supports Explore Minnesota Tourism legislation for increased funding for marketing in Minnesota.

– MnUSA supports DNR legislation for an increase in snowmobile registration fees to support funding to the grants to clubs.

2018-19 – MnUSA supports a change in the DWI laws to treat all motor vehicle use whether road or recreational vehicles the same.

– MnUSA and DNR support legislation that removes the display of registration number requirement.