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Key: (1) language to be deleted (2) new language

CHAPTER 13--H.F.No. 12

An act

relating to taxation; property; making changes to the green acres and rural preserve programs; requiring a study;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 273.111, by adding a subdivision; 273.114, subdivisions 2, 5, 6; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 273.114, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 273.111, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 2a. new text end

new text begin Purpose. new text end

new text begin The legislature finds that it is in the interest of the state to encourage and preserve farms by mitigating the property tax impact of increasing land values due to nonagricultural economic forces. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 273.114, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Requirements.

Class deleted text begin 2a ordeleted text end 2b property that had been deleted text begin assesseddeleted text end new text begin properly enrollednew text end under deleted text begin Minnesota Statutes 2006,deleted text end section 273.111new text begin for taxes payable in 2008new text end , or that is part of an agricultural homestead under deleted text begin Minnesota Statutes,deleted text end section 273.13, subdivision 23, paragraph (a)new text begin , at least a portion of which is enrolled under section 273.111new text end , is entitled to valuation and tax deferment under this section if:

(1) the deleted text begin land consists of at least ten acresdeleted text end new text begin property is contiguous to class 2a property enrolled under section 273.111 under the same ownershipnew text end ;

deleted text begin (2) a conservation assessment plan for the land must be prepared by an approved plan writer and implemented during the period in which the land is subject to valuation and deferment under this section; deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) the land must be enrolled for a minimum of eight years; deleted text end

deleted text begin (4)deleted text end new text begin (2)new text end there are no delinquent property taxes on the land; and

deleted text begin (5)deleted text end new text begin (3)new text end the property is not also enrolled for valuation and deferment under section 273.111 or 273.112, or chapter 290C or 473H.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective for taxes payable in 2012 and thereafter. new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 273.114, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Application deleted text begin and covenant agreementdeleted text end .

deleted text begin (a)deleted text end Application for deferment of taxes and assessment under this section shall be filed by May 1 of the year prior to the year in which the taxes are payablenew text begin , provided that in calendar year 2011 the application must be filed before August 1new text end . Any application filed under this subdivision and granted shall continue in effect for subsequent years until the deleted text begin termination of the covenant agreement under paragraph (b)deleted text end new text begin property is withdrawn or no longer qualifiesnew text end . The application must be filed with the assessor of the taxing district in which the real property is located on the form prescribed by the commissioner of revenue. new text begin Each application must include the most recent available aerial photograph or satellite image of the property provided by the Farm Service Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture or by the county geospatial information systems service that clearly delineates the land that is to be enrolled. The application form must contain a statement setting forth the consequences to the property owner of termination of qualification of property under the rural preserve program.new text end The assessor may require proof by affidavit or otherwise that the property qualifies under subdivision 2.

deleted text begin (b) The owner of the property must sign a covenant agreement that is filed with the county recorder and recorded in the county where the property is located. The covenant agreement must include all of the following: deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) legal description of the area to which the covenant applies; deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) name and address of the owner; deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) a statement that the land described in the covenant must be kept as rural preserve land, which meets the requirements of subdivision 2, for the duration of the covenant; deleted text end

deleted text begin (4) a statement that the landowner may terminate the covenant agreement by notifying the county assessor in writing three years in advance of the date of proposed termination, provided that the notice of intent to terminate may not be given at any time before the land has been subject to the covenant for a period of five years; deleted text end

deleted text begin (5) a statement that the covenant is binding on the owner or the owner's successor or assigns and runs with the land; and deleted text end

deleted text begin (6) a witnessed signature of the owner, agreeing by covenant, to maintain the land as described in subdivision 2. deleted text end

deleted text begin (c) After a covenant under this section has been terminated, the land that had been subject to the covenant is ineligible for subsequent valuation under this section for a period of three years after the termination. deleted text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 273.114, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Additional taxes.

deleted text begin Upon termination of a covenant agreement in subdivision 5, paragraph (b), the land to which the covenant applieddeleted text end new text begin When real property which is being, or has been valued and assessed under this section no longer qualifies under subdivision 2, the portion no longer qualifyingnew text end shall be subject to additional taxes in the amount equal to the difference between the taxes determined in accordance with subdivision 3 and the amount determined under subdivision 4, provided that the amount determined under subdivision 4 shall not be greater than it would have been had the actual bona fide sale price of the real property at an arm's-length transaction been used in lieu of the market value determined under subdivision 4. The additional taxes shall be extended against the property on the tax list for the current year, provided that no interest or penalties shall be levied on the additional taxes if timely paid and that the additional taxes shall only be levied with respect to the current year plus two prior years that the property has been valued and assessed under this section.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 5.

new text begin LAND REMOVED FROM PROGRAM. new text end

new text begin (a) Any class 2a land that had been properly enrolled in the Minnesota Agricultural Property Tax Law under Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 273.111, and that was removed from the program between May 21, 2008, and the effective date of this section must be reinstated to the program at the request of the owner provided that the request is made prior to August 1, 2011. new text end

new text begin (b) Any class 2b land that had been properly enrolled in the Minnesota Agricultural Property Tax Law under Minnesota Statutes, section 273.111, and that was removed from the program between May 21, 2008, and the effective date of this section, and that applies for enrollment in the rural preserve program under Minnesota Statutes, section 273.114, prior to August 1, 2011, shall be allowed to apply as if it had been enrolled under Minnesota Statutes, section 273.111, immediately prior to application for enrollment under Minnesota Statutes, section 273.114. new text end

new text begin (c) If additional taxes, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 273.111, subdivision 9, have been paid by a property owner prior to the effective date of this paragraph for property being enrolled or reenrolled under paragraph (a) or (b), the county must repay the property owner in the manner prescribed by the commissioner of revenue. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin Paragraphs (a) and (b) are effective for taxes payable in 2012 and thereafter. Paragraph (c) is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 6.

new text begin COVENANTS TERMINATED. new text end

new text begin Any covenants entered into in order to comply with the requirements of Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 273.114, subdivision 5, are terminated. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 7.

new text begin STUDY REQUIRED. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of revenue, in consultation with the Minnesota Association of Assessing Officers, the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota, and representatives of major farm groups within the state of Minnesota, must explore alternative methods for determining the taxable value of tillable and nontillable land enrolled in the green acres program under Minnesota Statutes, section 273.111, and the rural preserves program under Minnesota Statutes, section 273.114. The commissioner must make a report to the legislature by February 15, 2012, describing the methodologies intended to be used for assessment year 2012 and thereafter. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 8.

new text begin REPEALER. new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 273.114, subdivision 1, new text end new text begin is repealed. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Presented to the governor April 14, 2011

Signed by the governor April 15, 2011, 10:49 a.m.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes