Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota Senate Bill SF1656 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 02/18/2025

                            1.1	A bill for an act​
1.2 relating to taxation; property; removing classification rate and establishing property​
1.3 tax exemption for certain property owned and operated by congressionally chartered​
1.4 veterans service organizations; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 272.02,​
1.5 by adding a subdivision; 273.13, subdivision 25.​
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:​
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 272.02, is amended by adding a subdivision​
1.8to read:​
1.9 Subd. 106.Congressionally chartered veterans service organizations.(a) Property​
1.10qualifying for classification under section 273.13, subdivision 25, paragraph (d), clause (3),​
1.11that is owned and operated by a congressionally chartered veterans service organization is​
1.12exempt. The commissioner of veterans affairs must annually provide a list of congressionally​
1.13chartered veterans service organizations to the commissioner of revenue by January 1.​
1.14 (b) For assessment year 2025 only: (1) the commissioner of veterans affairs must provide​
1.15a list of congressionally chartered veterans service organizations to the commissioner of​
1.16revenue by July 1, 2025; and (2) a congressionally chartered veterans service organization​
1.17must file an exemption application under this section with the county assessor by August​
1.181, 2025.​
1.19 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective beginning with assessment year 2025.​
1.20 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 273.13, subdivision 25, is amended to read:​
1.21 Subd. 25.Class 4.(a) Class 4a is residential real estate containing four or more units​
1.22and used or held for use by the owner or by the tenants or lessees of the owner as a residence​
1​Sec. 2.​
25-00679 as introduced​11/22/24 REVISOR MS/DG​
SENATE​
STATE OF MINNESOTA​
S.F. No. 1656​NINETY-FOURTH SESSION​
(SENATE AUTHORS: DAHMS)​
OFFICIAL STATUS​D-PG​DATE​
Introduction and first reading​02/20/2025​
Referred to Taxes​ 2.1for rental periods of 30 days or more, excluding property qualifying for class 4d. Class 4a​
2.2also includes hospitals licensed under sections 144.50 to 144.56, other than hospitals exempt​
2.3under section 272.02, and contiguous property used for hospital purposes, without regard​
2.4to whether the property has been platted or subdivided. The market value of class 4a property​
2.5has a classification rate of 1.25 percent.​
2.6 (b) Class 4b includes:​
2.7 (1) residential real estate containing less than four units, including property rented as a​
2.8short-term rental property for more than 14 days in the preceding year, that does not qualify​
2.9as class 4bb, other than seasonal residential recreational property;​
2.10 (2) manufactured homes not classified under any other provision;​
2.11 (3) a dwelling, garage, and surrounding one acre of property on a nonhomestead farm​
2.12classified under subdivision 23, paragraph (b) containing two or three units; and​
2.13 (4) unimproved property that is classified residential as determined under subdivision​
2.1433.​
2.15 For the purposes of this paragraph, "short-term rental property" means nonhomestead​
2.16residential real estate rented for periods of less than 30 consecutive days.​
2.17 The market value of class 4b property has a classification rate of 1.25 percent.​
2.18 (c) Class 4bb includes:​
2.19 (1) nonhomestead residential real estate containing one unit, other than seasonal​
2.20residential recreational property;​
2.21 (2) a single family dwelling, garage, and surrounding one acre of property on a​
2.22nonhomestead farm classified under subdivision 23, paragraph (b); and​
2.23 (3) a condominium-type storage unit having an individual property identification number​
2.24that is not used for a commercial purpose.​
2.25 Class 4bb property has the same classification rates as class 1a property under subdivision​
2.2622.​
2.27 Property that has been classified as seasonal residential recreational property at any time​
2.28during which it has been owned by the current owner or spouse of the current owner does​
2.29not qualify for class 4bb.​
2.30 (d) Class 4c property includes:​
2​Sec. 2.​
25-00679 as introduced​11/22/24 REVISOR MS/DG​ 3.1 (1) except as provided in subdivision 22, paragraph (c), real and personal property​
3.2devoted to commercial temporary and seasonal residential occupancy for recreation purposes,​
3.3for not more than 250 days in the year preceding the year of assessment. For purposes of​
3.4this clause, property is devoted to a commercial purpose on a specific day if any portion of​
3.5the property is used for residential occupancy, and a fee is charged for residential occupancy.​
3.6Class 4c property under this clause must contain three or more rental units. A "rental unit"​
3.7is defined as a cabin, condominium, townhouse, sleeping room, or individual camping site​
3.8equipped with water and electrical hookups for recreational vehicles. A camping pad offered​
3.9for rent by a property that otherwise qualifies for class 4c under this clause is also class 4c​
3.10under this clause regardless of the term of the rental agreement, as long as the use of the​
3.11camping pad does not exceed 250 days. In order for a property to be classified under this​
3.12clause, either (i) the business located on the property must provide recreational activities,​
3.13at least 40 percent of the annual gross lodging receipts related to the property must be from​
3.14business conducted during 90 consecutive days, and either (A) at least 60 percent of all paid​
3.15bookings by lodging guests during the year must be for periods of at least two consecutive​
3.16nights; or (B) at least 20 percent of the annual gross receipts must be from charges for​
3.17providing recreational activities, or (ii) the business must contain 20 or fewer rental units,​
3.18and must be located in a township or a city with a population of 2,500 or less located outside​
3.19the metropolitan area, as defined under section 473.121, subdivision 2, that contains a portion​
3.20of a state trail administered by the Department of Natural Resources. For purposes of item​
3.21(i)(A), a paid booking of five or more nights shall be counted as two bookings. Class 4c​
3.22property also includes commercial use real property used exclusively for recreational​
3.23purposes in conjunction with other class 4c property classified under this clause and devoted​
3.24to temporary and seasonal residential occupancy for recreational purposes, up to a total of​
3.25two acres, provided the property is not devoted to commercial recreational use for more​
3.26than 250 days in the year preceding the year of assessment and is located within two miles​
3.27of the class 4c property with which it is used. In order for a property to qualify for​
3.28classification under this clause, the owner must submit a declaration to the assessor​
3.29designating the cabins or units occupied for 250 days or less in the year preceding the year​
3.30of assessment by January 15 of the assessment year. Those cabins or units and a proportionate​
3.31share of the land on which they are located must be designated class 4c under this clause​
3.32as otherwise provided. The remainder of the cabins or units and a proportionate share of​
3.33the land on which they are located will be designated as class 3a. The owner of property​
3.34desiring designation as class 4c property under this clause must provide guest registers or​
3.35other records demonstrating that the units for which class 4c designation is sought were not​
3.36occupied for more than 250 days in the year preceding the assessment if so requested. The​
3​Sec. 2.​
25-00679 as introduced​11/22/24 REVISOR MS/DG​ 4.1portion of a property operated as a (1) restaurant, (2) bar, (3) gift shop, (4) conference center​
4.2or meeting room, and (5) other nonresidential facility operated on a commercial basis not​
4.3directly related to temporary and seasonal residential occupancy for recreation purposes​
4.4does not qualify for class 4c. For the purposes of this paragraph, "recreational activities"​
4.5means renting ice fishing houses, boats and motors, snowmobiles, downhill or cross-country​
4.6ski equipment; providing marina services, launch services, or guide services; or selling bait​
4.7and fishing tackle;​
4.8 (2) qualified property used as a golf course if:​
4.9 (i) it is open to the public on a daily fee basis. It may charge membership fees or dues,​
4.10but a membership fee may not be required in order to use the property for golfing, and its​
4.11green fees for golfing must be comparable to green fees typically charged by municipal​
4.12courses; and​
4.13 (ii) it meets the requirements of section 273.112, subdivision 3, paragraph (d).​
4.14 A structure used as a clubhouse, restaurant, or place of refreshment in conjunction with​
4.15the golf course is classified as class 3a property;​
4.16 (3) real property up to a maximum of three acres of land owned and used by a nonprofit​
4.17community service oriented organization and not used for residential purposes on either a​
4.18temporary or permanent basis, provided that:​
4.19 (i) the property is not used for a revenue-producing activity for more than six days in​
4.20the calendar year preceding the year of assessment; or​
4.21 (ii) the organization makes annual charitable contributions and donations at least equal​
4.22to the property's previous year's property taxes and the property is allowed to be used for​
4.23public and community meetings or events for no charge, as appropriate to the size of the​
4.24facility.​
4.25 For purposes of this clause:​
4.26 (A) "charitable contributions and donations" has the same meaning as lawful gambling​
4.27purposes under section 349.12, subdivision 25, excluding those purposes relating to the​
4.28payment of taxes, assessments, fees, auditing costs, and utility payments;​
4.29 (B) "property taxes" excludes the state general tax;​
4.30 (C) a "nonprofit community service oriented organization" means any corporation,​
4.31society, association, foundation, or institution organized and operated exclusively for​
4.32charitable, religious, fraternal, civic, or educational purposes, and which is exempt from​
4​Sec. 2.​
25-00679 as introduced​11/22/24 REVISOR MS/DG​ 5.1federal income taxation pursuant to section 501(c)(3), (8), (10), or (19) of the Internal​
5.2Revenue Code; and​
5.3 (D) "revenue-producing activities" shall include but not be limited to property or that​
5.4portion of the property that is used as an on-sale intoxicating liquor or 3.2 percent malt​
5.5liquor establishment licensed under chapter 340A, a restaurant open to the public, bowling​
5.6alley, a retail store, gambling conducted by organizations licensed under chapter 349, an​
5.7insurance business, or office or other space leased or rented to a lessee who conducts a​
5.8for-profit enterprise on the premises.​
5.9 Any portion of the property not qualifying under either item (i) or (ii) is class 3a. The​
5.10use of the property for social events open exclusively to members and their guests for periods​
5.11of less than 24 hours, when an admission is not charged nor any revenues are received by​
5.12the organization shall not be considered a revenue-producing activity.​
5.13 The organization shall maintain records of its charitable contributions and donations​
5.14and of public meetings and events held on the property and make them available upon​
5.15request any time to the assessor to ensure eligibility. An organization meeting the requirement​
5.16under item (ii) must file an application by May 1 with the assessor for eligibility for the​
5.17current year's assessment. The commissioner shall prescribe a uniform application form​
5.18and instructions;​
5.19 (4) postsecondary student housing of not more than one acre of land that is owned by a​
5.20nonprofit corporation organized under chapter 317A and is used exclusively by a student​
5.21cooperative, sorority, or fraternity for on-campus housing or housing located within two​
5.22miles of the border of a college campus;​
5.23 (5)(i) manufactured home parks as defined in section 327.14, subdivision 3, excluding​
5.24manufactured home parks described in items (ii) and (iii), (ii) manufactured home parks as​
5.25defined in section 327.14, subdivision 3, that are described in section 273.124, subdivision​
5.263a, and (iii) class I manufactured home parks as defined in section 327C.015, subdivision​
5.272;​
5.28 (6) real property that is actively and exclusively devoted to indoor fitness, health, social,​
5.29recreational, and related uses, is owned and operated by a not-for-profit corporation, and is​
5.30located within the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2;​
5.31 (7) a leased or privately owned noncommercial aircraft storage hangar not exempt under​
5.32section 272.01, subdivision 2, and the land on which it is located, provided that:​
5​Sec. 2.​
25-00679 as introduced​11/22/24 REVISOR MS/DG​ 6.1 (i) the land is on an airport owned or operated by a city, town, county, Metropolitan​
6.2Airports Commission, or group thereof; and​
6.3 (ii) the land lease, or any ordinance or signed agreement restricting the use of the leased​
6.4premise, prohibits commercial activity performed at the hangar.​
6.5 If a hangar classified under this clause is sold after June 30, 2000, a bill of sale must be​
6.6filed by the new owner with the assessor of the county where the property is located within​
6.760 days of the sale;​
6.8 (8) a privately owned noncommercial aircraft storage hangar not exempt under section​
6.9272.01, subdivision 2, and the land on which it is located, provided that:​
6.10 (i) the land abuts a public airport; and​
6.11 (ii) the owner of the aircraft storage hangar provides the assessor with a signed agreement​
6.12restricting the use of the premises, prohibiting commercial use or activity performed at the​
6.13hangar; and​
6.14 (9) residential real estate, a portion of which is used by the owner for homestead purposes,​
6.15and that is also a place of lodging, if all of the following criteria are met:​
6.16 (i) rooms are provided for rent to transient guests that generally stay for periods of 14​
6.17or fewer days;​
6.18 (ii) meals are provided to persons who rent rooms, the cost of which is incorporated in​
6.19the basic room rate;​
6.20 (iii) meals are not provided to the general public except for special events on fewer than​
6.21seven days in the calendar year preceding the year of the assessment; and​
6.22 (iv) the owner is the operator of the property.​
6.23 The market value subject to the 4c classification under this clause is limited to five rental​
6.24units. Any rental units on the property in excess of five, must be valued and assessed as​
6.25class 3a. The portion of the property used for purposes of a homestead by the owner must​
6.26be classified as class 1a property under subdivision 22;​
6.27 (10) real property up to a maximum of three acres and operated as a restaurant as defined​
6.28under section 157.15, subdivision 12, provided it: (i) is located on a lake as defined under​
6.29section 103G.005, subdivision 15, paragraph (a), clause (3); and (ii) is either devoted to​
6.30commercial purposes for not more than 250 consecutive days, or receives at least 60 percent​
6.31of its annual gross receipts from business conducted during four consecutive months. Gross​
6.32receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages must be included in determining the property's​
6​Sec. 2.​
25-00679 as introduced​11/22/24 REVISOR MS/DG​ 7.1qualification under item (ii). The property's primary business must be as a restaurant and​
7.2not as a bar. Gross receipts from gift shop sales located on the premises must be excluded.​
7.3Owners of real property desiring 4c classification under this clause must submit an annual​
7.4declaration to the assessor by February 1 of the current assessment year, based on the​
7.5property's relevant information for the preceding assessment year;​
7.6 (11) lakeshore and riparian property and adjacent land, not to exceed six acres, used as​
7.7a marina, as defined in section 86A.20, subdivision 5, which is made accessible to the public​
7.8and devoted to recreational use for marina services. The marina owner must annually provide​
7.9evidence to the assessor that it provides services, including lake or river access to the public​
7.10by means of an access ramp or other facility that is either located on the property of the​
7.11marina or at a publicly owned site that abuts the property of the marina. No more than 800​
7.12feet of lakeshore may be included in this classification. Buildings used in conjunction with​
7.13a marina for marina services, including but not limited to buildings used to provide food​
7.14and beverage services, fuel, boat repairs, or the sale of bait or fishing tackle, are classified​
7.15as class 3a property; and​
7.16 (12) real and personal property devoted to noncommercial temporary and seasonal​
7.17residential occupancy for recreation purposes.​
7.18 Class 4c property has a classification rate of 1.5 percent of market value, except that:​
7.19(i) each parcel of noncommercial seasonal residential recreational property under clause​
7.20(12) has the same classification rates as class 4bb property,; (ii) manufactured home parks​
7.21assessed under clause (5), item (i), have the same classification rate as class 4b property,​
7.22the market value of manufactured home parks assessed under clause (5), item (ii), have a​
7.23classification rate of 0.75 percent if more than 50 percent of the lots in the park are occupied​
7.24by shareholders in the cooperative corporation or association and a classification rate of​
7.25one percent if 50 percent or less of the lots are so occupied, and class I manufactured home​
7.26parks as defined in section 327C.015, subdivision 2, have a classification rate of 1.0 percent,;​
7.27(iii) commercial-use seasonal residential recreational property and marina recreational land​
7.28as described in clause (11), has a classification rate of one percent for the first $500,000 of​
7.29market value, and 1.25 percent for the remaining market value,; (iv) the market value of​
7.30property described in clause (4) has a classification rate of one percent,; (v) the market value​
7.31of property described in clauses (2), (6), and (10) has a classification rate of 1.25 percent,;​
7.32and (vi) that portion of the market value of property in clause (9) qualifying for class 4c​
7.33property has a classification rate of 1.25 percent, and (vii) property qualifying for​
7.34classification under clause (3) that is owned or operated by a congressionally chartered​
7.35veterans organization has a classification rate of one percent. The commissioner of veterans​
7​Sec. 2.​
25-00679 as introduced​11/22/24 REVISOR MS/DG​ 8.1affairs must provide a list of congressionally chartered veterans organizations to the​
8.2commissioner of revenue by June 30, 2017, and by January 1, 2018, and each year thereafter.​
8.3 (e) Class 4d property includes:​
8.4 (1) qualifying low-income rental housing certified to the assessor by the Housing Finance​
8.5Agency under section 273.128, subdivision 3. If only a portion of the units in the building​
8.6qualify as low-income rental housing units as certified under section 273.128, subdivision​
8.73, only the proportion of qualifying units to the total number of units in the building qualify​
8.8for class 4d(1). The remaining portion of the building shall be classified by the assessor​
8.9based upon its use. Class 4d(1) also includes the same proportion of land as the qualifying​
8.10low-income rental housing units are to the total units in the building. For all properties​
8.11qualifying as class 4d(1), the market value determined by the assessor must be based on the​
8.12normal approach to value using normal unrestricted rents; and​
8.13 (2) a unit that is owned by the occupant and used as a homestead by the occupant, and​
8.14otherwise meets all the requirements for community land trust property under section 273.11,​
8.15subdivision 12, provided that by December 31 of each assessment year, the community land​
8.16trust certifies to the assessor that (i) the community land trust owns the real property on​
8.17which the unit is located, and (ii) the unit owner is a member in good standing of the​
8.18community land trust. For all units qualifying as class 4d(2), the market value determined​
8.19by the assessor must be based on the normal approach to value without regard to any​
8.20restrictions that apply because the unit is a community land trust property.​
8.21 (f) Class 4d(1) property has a classification rate of 0.25 percent. Class 4d(2) property​
8.22has a classification rate of 0.75 percent.​
8.23 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective beginning with assessment year 2025.​
8​Sec. 2.​
25-00679 as introduced​11/22/24 REVISOR MS/DG​