Senate Transportation panel lays over bill to allow electric-vehicle decals for HOV lanes

Senator Johnson Stewart, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, introduced Senate File 1904 on March 19, 2025, proposing that owners of battery-electric vehicles be allowed to purchase a decal enabling single-occupant use of high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.

The bill, as described by Senator Johnson Stewart, would change Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) policy to permit a rear-window decal for qualifying battery-electric vehicles that would signal to enforcement officers that the vehicle is eligible to use HOV lanes without a transponder or multiple occupants. "Now, before I even tell you what this bill is, I want you to know that it's good for everybody," Senator Johnson Stewart said while outlining the proposal and cited MnDOT HOV usage data showing lower occupancy since COVID-19.

Supporters and the bill sponsor said MnDOT data indicate there is available capacity in the HOV lanes and that permitting electric vehicles (but not hybrids) to use the lanes could improve overall traffic flow in the non-HOV lanes. Senator Johnson Stewart noted the state already offers an E-ZPass toll-credit incentive for some electric-vehicle buyers and said the decal would allow law enforcement to identify eligible vehicles quickly.

Opponents raised equity and policy concerns. Senator Jasinski said he opposed the bill, arguing HOV lanes were created to reduce trips by encouraging multi-occupant vehicles and that electric vehicles pay less in fuel taxes. "If you want to be equitable, just open [the HOV lanes] to everybody or do what their intended purpose was," Jasinski said, adding that allowing single-occupant EVs into HOV lanes could pick winners and losers.

MnDOT traffic staff were present to answer questions but did not give a formal presentation. Committee materials included a letter of support from the advocacy organization Fresh Energy.

Action: The committee laid Senate File 1904 on the table for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

The committee did not take a roll-call vote on the bill during the hearing; the chair announced the item would be tabled for now and revisited as part of omnibus negotiations or later committee action.