Today Governor Walz signed Senator Karin Housley’s (R-St. Marys Point) bill aimed at improving wait times for Minnesotans taking driver’s tests and written permit tests. The bill, Senate File 4, would allow written permit tests to be offered at deputy registrar offices, high schools, libraries, or other third-party locations. Providing permit tests at these additional locations will cut down on lines at Department of Vehicle Services (DVS) locations, reduce scheduling at testing centers, and allow DVS to focus on scheduling the thousands of people waiting to get their driver’s license.

“We have worked for months to get this bill over the finish line and I appreciate Governor Walz’s support,” said Senator Housley. “Legislators are responsible for identifying inefficiency and implementing changes so constituents are served well. Your tax dollars support our DVS offices, and you should be able to take your test without having to drive halfway across the state. The growing backlog is unacceptable, and we needed to make a creative update to the current system. Getting your permit or license should be a fun and exciting experience not a grueling process. This bill makes a commonsense change and I hope it will save many families extra headache and wasted time.”

With the Governor’s signature, the legislation will take effect on November 1, 2020.