A bill for an act
relating to taxation; sales and use; dedicating revenues from the sales tax on various
products and services to the highway user tax distribution fund; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 297A.94.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 297A.94, is amended to read:
(a) Except as provided in this section, the commissioner shall deposit the revenues,
including interest and penalties, derived from the taxes imposed by this chapter in the state
treasury and credit them to the general fund.
(b) The commissioner shall deposit taxes in the Minnesota agricultural and economic
account in the special revenue fund if:
(1) the taxes are derived from sales and use of property and services purchased for the
construction and operation of an agricultural resource project; and
(2) the purchase was made on or after the date on which a conditional commitment was
made for a loan guaranty for the project under section 41A.04, subdivision 3.
The commissioner of management and budget shall certify to the commissioner the date on
which the project received the conditional commitment. The amount deposited in the loan
guaranty account must be reduced by any refunds and by the costs incurred by the Department
of Revenue to administer and enforce the assessment and collection of the taxes.
(c) The commissioner shall deposit the revenues, including interest and penalties, derived
from the taxes imposed on sales and purchases included in section 297A.61, subdivision 3,
paragraph (g), clauses (1) and (4), in the state treasury, and credit them as follows:
(1) first to the general obligation special tax bond debt service account in each fiscal
year the amount required by section 16A.661, subdivision 3, paragraph (b); and
(2) after the requirements of clause (1) have been met, the balance to the general fund.
(d) Beginning with sales taxes remitted after July 1, 2017, the commissioner shall deposit
in the state treasury the revenues collected under section 297A.64, subdivision 1, including
interest and penalties and minus refunds, and credit them to the highway user tax distribution
fund.
(e) The commissioner shall deposit the revenues, including interest and penalties,
collected under section 297A.64, subdivision 5, in the state treasury and credit them to the
general fund. By July 15 of each year the commissioner shall transfer to the highway user
tax distribution fund an amount equal to the excess fees collected under section 297A.64,
subdivision 5, for the previous calendar year.
(f) Beginning with sales taxes remitted after July 1, 2017, in conjunction with the deposit
of revenues under paragraph (d), the commissioner shall deposit into the state treasury and
credit to the highway user tax distribution fund an amount equal to the estimated revenues
derived from the tax rate imposed under section 297A.62, subdivision 1, on the lease or
rental for not more than 28 days of rental motor vehicles subject to section 297A.64. The
commissioner shall estimate the amount of sales tax revenue deposited under this paragraph
based on the amount of revenue deposited under paragraph (d).
(g) The commissioner must deposit the revenues derived from the taxes imposed under
section 297A.62, subdivision 1, on the sale and purchase of motor vehicle repair and
replacement parts in the state treasury and credit:
(1) 43.5 percent in each fiscal year to the highway user tax distribution fund;
(2) a percentage to the transportation advancement account under section 174.49 as
follows:
(i) 3.5 percent in fiscal year 2024;
(ii) 4.5 percent in fiscal year 2025;
(iii) 5.5 percent in fiscal year 2026;
(iv) 7.5 percent in fiscal year 2027;
(v) 14.5 percent in fiscal year 2028;
(vi) 21.5 percent in fiscal year 2029;
(vii) 28.5 percent in fiscal year 2030;
(viii) 36.5 percent in fiscal year 2031;
(ix) 44.5 percent in fiscal year 2032; and
(x) 56.5 percent in fiscal year 2033 and thereafter; and
(3) the remainder in each fiscal year to the general fund.
For purposes of this paragraph, "motor vehicle" has the meaning given in section 297B.01,
subdivision 11, and "motor vehicle repair and replacement parts" includes (i) all parts, tires,
accessories, and equipment incorporated into or affixed to the motor vehicle as part of the
motor vehicle maintenance and repair, and (ii) paint, oil, and other fluids that remain on or
in the motor vehicle as part of the motor vehicle maintenance or repair. For purposes of this
paragraph, "tire" means any tire of the type used on highway vehicles, if wholly or partially
made of rubber and if marked according to federal regulations for highway use.
(h) 81.56 percent of the revenues, including interest and penalties, transmitted to the
commissioner under section 297A.65, must be deposited by the commissioner in the state
treasury as follows:
(1) 50 percent of the receipts must be deposited in the heritage enhancement account in
the game and fish fund, and may be spent only on activities that improve, enhance, or protect
fish and wildlife resources, including conservation, restoration, and enhancement of land,
water, and other natural resources of the state;
(2) 22.5 percent of the receipts must be deposited in the natural resources fund, and may
be spent only for state parks and trails;
(3) 22.5 percent of the receipts must be deposited in the natural resources fund, and may
be spent only on metropolitan park and trail grants;
(4) three percent of the receipts must be deposited in the natural resources fund, and
may be spent only on local trail grants; and
(5) two percent of the receipts must be deposited in the natural resources fund, and may
be spent only for the Minnesota Zoological Garden, the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory,
and the Duluth Zoo.
(i) 1.5 percent of the revenues, including interest and penalties, transmitted to the
commissioner under section 297A.65 must be deposited in a regional parks and trails account
in the natural resources fund and may only be spent for parks and trails of regional
significance outside of the seven-county metropolitan area under section 85.535, based on
recommendations from the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission under
section 85.536.
(j) 1.5 percent of the revenues, including interest and penalties, transmitted to the
commissioner under section 297A.65 must be deposited in an outdoor recreational
opportunities for underserved communities account in the natural resources fund and may
only be spent on projects and activities that connect diverse and underserved Minnesotans
through expanding cultural environmental experiences, exploration of their environment,
and outdoor recreational activities.
(k) The revenue dedicated under paragraph (h) may not be used as a substitute for
traditional sources of funding for the purposes specified, but the dedicated revenue shall
supplement traditional sources of funding for those purposes. Land acquired with money
deposited in the game and fish fund under paragraph (h) must be open to public hunting
and fishing during the open season, except that in aquatic management areas or on lands
where angling easements have been acquired, fishing may be prohibited during certain times
of the year and hunting may be prohibited. At least 87 percent of the money deposited in
the game and fish fund for improvement, enhancement, or protection of fish and wildlife
resources under paragraph (h) must be allocated for field operations.
(l) The commissioner must deposit the revenues, including interest and penalties minus
any refunds, derived from the sale of items regulated under section 624.20, subdivision 1,
that may be sold to persons 18 years old or older and that are not prohibited from use by
the general public under section 624.21, in the state treasury and credit:
(1) 25 percent to the volunteer fire assistance grant account established under section
88.068;
(2) 25 percent to the fire safety account established under section 297I.06, subdivision
3; and
(3) the remainder to the general fund.
For purposes of this paragraph, the percentage of total sales and use tax revenue derived
from the sale of items regulated under section 624.20, subdivision 1, that are allowed to be
sold to persons 18 years old or older and are not prohibited from use by the general public
under section 624.21, is a set percentage of the total sales and use tax revenues collected in
the state, with the percentage determined under Laws 2017, First Special Session chapter
1, article 3, section 39.
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(m) Beginning with sales taxes remitted after July 1, 2024, the commissioner shall deposit
into the state treasury and credit to the highway user tax distribution fund an amount equal
to the estimated revenues derived from:
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new text begin (1) bicycles, as defined in section 169.011, subdivisi