Months of lobbying by the MIC, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, and industry partners secured two major legislative wins in Minnesota.
This is a press release from the MIC…
Youth-model off-highway vehicles and their components would be exempt from the state’s current youth-product PFAS ban under the latest draft of the Environment Budget and Policy Omnibus bill. A three-year grace period for keys containing lead and cadmium was also included in the Commerce Budget and Policy Omnibus bill.
The environment bill clarifies that youth-sized off-highway vehicles – including ATVs and motorcycles – and their replacement parts are not classified as “juvenile products” under Minnesota’s PFAS restrictions, ensuring they are not swept into the state prohibition that took effect January 1. It also exempts juvenile products that contain PFAS in electronic or internal components, a key clarification addressing elements like wiring and sensors in modern powersports vehicles.
“This is fantastic news, and we are happy that the legislature listened to our arguments that children are not playing with and interacting with the parts on our vehicles that may contain PFAS,” said Scott Schloegel, Senior Vice President of Government Relations for the MIC and SVIA. “The result of this amended language is that youth vehicles will now be treated the same as adult-sized and powered vehicles, which still face a 2032 ban in Minnesota when the full PFAS prohibition is set to take effect.”
The commerce bill includes a time extension to find alternatives to the lead and cadmium used in vehicle ignition keys, allowing current versions to be sold until July 1, 2028. After that, keys must not have lead or cadmium at levels above 1.5 percent by total weight.
“We worked closely with in-state manufacturers, including Polaris, and appreciate that Minnesota legislators and the Pollution Control Agency took the time to meet with us and understand the immense challenges facing manufacturers,” Schloegel said. “Thanks to those combined efforts, this legislation includes important clarifications that will help our industry stay compliant while continuing to search for alternatives to PFAS chemicals and ways to reduce lead and cadmium in keys.”
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