Seat belt use gag rule repealer

SF 669 repeals a Minnesota law that previously prohibited courts from considering whether a person was wearing a seat belt in personal injury or property damage cases involving motor vehicles. The bill removes the restriction found in Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 169.685, subdivision 4, which had barred evidence of seat belt use or non-use as evidence in such lawsuits. This change directly affects plaintiffs and defendants in car accident cases where seat belt usage might be relevant to determining liability. The key mechanism is the repeal of the specific statutory provision, allowing seat belt use to be presented as evidence in court. This is a policy change to the admissibility of evidence in personal injury litigation.