This bill amends Minnesota Statutes to provide a refundable sales tax exemption for construction materials used in the development of certain research and development campuses and customer experience centers. Specifically, it introduces a new subdivision under section 297A.71, which stipulates that materials and supplies used in the construction or improvement of these facilities are exempt from sales tax, provided the campus includes at least 250,000 square feet of laboratory space and the total construction cost is at least $200 million within a 32-month period. The tax will be collected as if it were taxable and then refunded, with the exemption set to expire on March 1, 2028. The effective date for this exemption applies to sales and purchases made after June 30, 2025.

Additionally, the bill amends section 297A.75 to include the new exemption for research and development campuses in the list of items eligible for tax refunds. It specifies that the developer of the building or project can apply for the refund, which is equal to the tax paid on the gross receipts of the exempt items. The amendments also clarify the application process and the information required for verification of the tax paid. The effective date for these changes is also set for sales and purchases made after June 30, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 297A.71, 297A.75