Mike Hanson, director of the Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety, asked the Senate Transportation Committee for a recurring trunk highway appropriation of $485,000 per year to cover planning and administration costs tied to federal traffic‑safety grants.

Hanson said planning and administration costs have grown and that federal rules — including public participation requirements in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — have increased the state match obligations for certain grants. The request would provide matching flexibility to leverage federal Section 402 traffic safety funds and to conduct outreach to underrepresented communities.

Hanson also presented a separate proposal to require seat‑belt use for ATVs and UTVs that are factory‑equipped with occupant restraints when those vehicles are operated on or adjacent to a public roadway. He described a sharp rise in roadway crashes involving ATVs/UTVs: “If we go back to 2019, we had 4 fatalities … Last year, so far, our numbers are showing us somewhere between 24 and 28,” Hanson said, and noted many victims are under age 19.

Scope and enforcement: The director clarified the proposal applies only when the vehicle is operated on or adjacent to a public roadway, not on trails or private land. Enforcement would be by any licensed law‑enforcement officer, and the proposal would rely on the factory‑installed restraint; the department does not propose a retrofit requirement.

Discussion and concerns: Senators raised questions about helmet rules, age and licensing for youthful operators, and whether the measure should proceed first through the Environment Committee where trail policy is handled. Hanson acknowledged implementation detail questions and said the seat‑belt proposal is meant to improve protection for occupants on or near public roads.

What’s next: The trunk highway funding request and the statutory change are under committee consideration. The department signaled it will work with lawmakers on definitions and enforcement details before any statutory change is finalized.