Property tax division report would cut aid to sanctuary cities

A controversial provision that would cut local government aid to sanctuary cities is included in the division report for the House Property Tax and Local Government Finance Division, following extensive debate and testimony.

Sponsored by Rep. Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa), HF465 — the division report — was approved, as amended, by the committee Friday and referred to the House Taxes Committee. Its companion, SF254, sponsored by Sen. Michael Goggin (R-Red Wing), awaits action by the Senate Transportation Finance and Policy Committee.

One of the bill’s most discussed provisions — incorporated from HF4403, sponsored by Drazkowski — would reduce aid to cities or counties that appropriate money to provide legal services to “illegal immigrants” and eliminate aid to sanctuary cities.

An amendment by Rep. Cheryl Youakim (DFL-Hopkins) to remove the provision was rejected on a 10-5 vote. The provision was opposed by the Immigration Law Center of Minnesota, League of Minnesota Cities, Association of Minnesota Counties, City of Minneapolis and ACLU Minnesota.

WATCH Overview of the report during Friday's hearing 

The report also carries the primary provision of its vehicle bill, which would prohibit the use of public money for the passenger rail project between Rochester and the Twin Cities. It would also prohibit the use of eminent domain on the project and other large passenger rail projects.

In addition to policy provisions, the report presents a cost savings of $10.5 million to the General Fund for Fiscal Years 2020-21. The two provisions that provide the bulk of those revenue savings are incorporated from HF603 and HF2072, both sponsored by Drazkowski, the division chair.

The first provision would repeal the library debt service aid to Minneapolis effective starting in calendar year 2018. The bill was amended to make the repeal effective beginning with assessments in 2020 and thereafter.

The second cost savings provision would repeal the political contribution fund program, which currently offers individuals a state-paid refund of their candidate contributions up to $50 a year. An amendment by Rep. Diane Loeffler (DFL-Mpls) to remove this provision was rejected on a split-voice vote.

What would HF465 do?

The bill also includes measures that would:

• consolidate residential property into a single classification, modify class rates and exempt seasonal-recreation property (i.e. cabins);
• exempt natural gas pipelines from property tax for 12 years;
• create a property tax exemption for medical facilities located in underserved areas; and
• base fractional homestead determinations on the percentage of ownership specified in county land records.

What’s in the bill?

The following are selected bills that have been incorporated in part or in whole into the omnibus environment and natural resources finance bill:

• HF603 (Drazkowski)
• HF661 (Peterson)
• HF3189 (Bennett)
• HF3276 (Whelan)
• HF4063 (Bliss)
• HF4403 (Drazkowski)
• HF4432 (Hertaus)