For 40 years, Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association(MnUSA) members and volunteers have worked to preserve and protect snowmobiling in Minnesota and across the United States through legislative initiatives, trail development and involvement in land access for trails. Here are some of theaccomplishments and milestones:

Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association Protects Snowmobiling at the Legislature

1982 – Legislation passed creating the Snowmobile Dedicated Trails & Enforcement Account

1983 – MnUSA supports tourism budget increase and the creation of a separate tourism department

1984 – Legislature requests Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Commissioner to present a plan of consideration for combining Trails & Waterways and Parks & Recreation. MnUSA opposes

1986 – MnUSA is successful in getting legislation passed giving municipalities limited liability in lawsuits based on their participation in the grant-in-aid program

1990 – MnUSA supports appropriation of funds for purchase and development of Paul Bunyan Trail and Bemidji to International Falls Blue Ox Trail

1991 – Registration fee increased from $18 to $30 for 3 years to fund trails

1992 – MnUSA is successful in getting legislation passed, limiting liability of snowmobile clubs and allowing them the same protection as municipalities

1994 – 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

1997– Registration fee increases from $30 to $45 for 3 years

1997 – Legislature changes law regarding training for youthful operation

1997-1998 – Non-resident snowmobile trail permit required

1998 – Legislature passes complete ban on studs effective 1999-2000

1999 – MnUSA leads initiative and successfully reverses stud ban. Nearly 40,000 signatures were collected supporting MnUSA’s position

1999 – Legislature passes increase in unrefunded gas tax to 1%

2002 - 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.

2005 - 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.

2008 - 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.

2012 - 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.

2012 - 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.

2012- MnUSA leads other non-profit trail groups to obtain legislation reducing the tort liability limit on recreational trails to $1 million.

2012 - 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.

2013 - MnUSA works with coalitions to protect access to private lands and protect snowmobile rentals

2014 - MnUSA successful in obtaining sales tax exemption on grooming equipment allowing non-profit grant-in-aid clubs additional funds to spend on trails.

2014 - MnUSA successful in obtaining legislation to prohibit tampering of odometers on recreational vehicles.

2014 - MnUSA, with support of DNR, redefines a snowmobile to more clearly explain what vehicles can use snowmobile trails, providing safer trails for the users.

2015 - MnUSA supports no registration requirement for snowmobiles 125 cc or less for non-trail use.

2016 - MnUSA successful in designating David Dill Memorial Trails.

Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association Works with Government Agencies for Snowmobiling

1985 – MnUSA and Minnesota Office of Tourism partner to create a Snowmobile Minnesota promotional video

1985 – First MnUSA Legislative Wine & Cheese Reception held

1985 – North Shore State Trail dedicated

1986 – Taconite Trail dedicated

1988 – 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

1989 – First annual Governor’s Ride with Governor Rudy Perpich in Bemidji sponsored by Arctic Cat

1990 – Governor Perpich forms Snowmobile Task Force – “As an industry and an activity, snowmobile tourism has become so important to Minnesota economy.”

1991 – 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

1996 – Minnesota Snowmobile Advisory Council (MSAC) created from a cross section of snowmobile related interests

1996 – 65/35 Implementation Plan and additional snowmobile funding solutions released

1997 – Statewide Snowmobile Trail Plan released

1999 ---Pilot program initiated to create a Performance Based Grant Program guaranteeing clubs grant payments, even in “no snow” years

2001 – 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.

2005 - 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.

2006 - MnUSA Works with DNR on development of statewide performance grant-in-aid program for clubs and funding for trail maintenance and grooming

2007 - MnUSA initiates corridor trail signing program for ease of travel by snowmobile across the state.

2009 - MnUSA supports increased funding to DNR for grooming on state trails.

2012 - MnUSA supports DNR legislation to allow for a mentoring program for non-snowmobilers to test ride snowmobiles.

2013 - MnUSA supports Explore Minnesota Tourism legislation for increased funding for marketing in Minnesota.

2017 - 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.

Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association Protects Snowmobiling on Federal Land

1978 – National Park Service (NPS) proposes snowmobiles only be used on major lakes in the Voyageurs National Park (VNP). MnUSA becomes involved.

1979 – NPS conducts public hearings on the rules for snowmobiles in the US National Parks

1990 – Voyageurs Regional National Park Association files suit to close snowmobiling in VNP

1991 – NPS proposes Wilderness Designation in VNP

1991 – First National Recreational Trails Funding Act passed for trail grants

1993 – Victory in Voyageurs! 8^th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed VNP bay closures and confirmed snowmobiling has no identifiable impact on wildlife (Endangered Species Act)

1997 – Fund for Animals, et al, files suit to require National Park Service to complete study of snowmobile damage in Yellowstone National Park

2004-2006 - Coordinates a snowmobile ride for federal legislative staff members and legislators.

2002-2019- MnUSA representatives attend an annual snowmobile Fly-In in Washington DC and visit federal legislators. In 2005 MnUSA testifies concerning snowmobile use in Voyageurs National Park and Yellowstone before a House hearing.