Minnesota MMIR license plate program raises nearly $500,000 for cold case rewards
Reward fund supports tips in missing and murdered Indigenous relatives investigations
Minnesota's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives license plate program has generated nearly $500,000 to support cold case investigations during its first year, according to reporting from ICT. More than 6,000 people have registered for the specialty plates since the reward fund launched July 23, 2025. The proceeds fund rewards ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 for tips in missing and murdered Indigenous relatives cases through the state's MMIR Office. The plates require a minimum $25 contribution with each application and renewal.
The MMIR Office oversees both the license plate and reward fund programs. According to the ICT reporting, state Sen. Mary Kunesh said the program was created to provide a steady funding source for investigations, while state Rep. Heather Keeler said the red handprint on the plates reflects the belief among some tribes that red is the color the spirit world can see. The state's office of justice programs said that 732 Indigenous people were reported missing in Minnesota in 2025.
- 1.ICT.
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