SF 2489

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/16/2012 08:39am

A bill for an act
relating to taxation; property taxes; modifying definition of real property;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 272.03, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 272.03, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Real property.

(a) For the purposes of taxation, "real property"
includes the land itself, rails, ties, and other track materials annexed to the land, and
all buildings, structures, and improvements or other fixtures on it, bridges of bridge
companies, and all rights and privileges belonging or appertaining to the land, and all
mines, iron ore and taconite minerals not otherwise exempt, quarries, fossils, and trees
on or under it.

(b) A building or structure shall include the building or structure itself, together with
all improvements or fixtures annexed to the building or structure, which are integrated
with and of permanent benefit to the building or structure, regardless of the present use
of the building, and which cannot be removed without substantial damage to itself or to
the building or structure.

(c)(i) Real property does not include tools, implements, machinery, and equipment
attached to or installed in real property for use in the business or production activity
conducted thereon, regardless of size, weight or method of attachment, and mine shafts,
tunnels, and other underground openings used to extract ores and minerals taxed under
chapter 298 together with steel, concrete, and other materials used to support such
openings.

(ii) The exclusion provided in clause (i) shall not apply to machinery and equipment
includable as real estate by paragraphs (a) and (b) even though such machinery and
equipment is used in the business or production activity conducted on the real property if
and to the extent such business or production activity consists of furnishing services or
products to other buildings or structures which are subject to taxation under this chapter.

(iii) The exclusion provided in clause (i) does not apply to the exterior shell of a
structure which constitutes walls, ceilings, roofs, or floors if the shell of the structure has
structural, insulation, or temperature control functions or provides protection from the
elements. Such an exterior shell is included in the definition of real property even if it
also has special functions distinct from that of a building.

(d) The term real property does not include tools, implements, machinery,
equipment, poles, lines, cables, wires, conduit, and station connections which are part of a
telephone communications system, regardless of attachment to or installation in real
property and regardless of size, weight, or method of attachment or installation.

new text begin (e) The term real property does not include fermentation tanks and beer wells which
are part of a biofuels production process, regardless of attachment to or installation in real
property, and regardless of size, weight, or method of attachment or installation.
new text end