Bill > SF227

This bill establishes a Tax-Stressed Cities Demolition Grant Program designed to help municipalities with high tax rates address abandoned and unsafe properties. The program will provide grants covering 50% of demolition costs for qualifying properties in cities with a net tax capacity tax rate of 125% or higher. A "qualifying property" is defined as a vacant property for at least one year that poses a public safety threat and is not historically registered. Development authorities must apply to the commissioner of employment and economic development, providing detailed information about the site, demolition costs, and financial need. The commissioner will prioritize grants based on the municipality's financial need and the property's safety risks. A special revenue fund account will be created to support the program, with $2,246,000 appropriated for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The commissioner must submit annual reports to legislative committees detailing grant fund usage, and administrative costs are limited to 5% of the annual appropriation. The goal is to help economically challenged cities remove blighted properties that might otherwise deteriorate and negatively impact community safety and property values.

Labor and Employment

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF0227&ssn=0&y=2025