1.2relating to economic development; providing for a new privately owned National
1.3Football League stadium in Minnesota; authorizing the issuance of revenue
1.4bonds; phasing out statewide business property tax;amending Minnesota Statutes
1.52010, sections 275.025, subdivision 1; 297A.71, by adding a subdivision;
1.6Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 340A.404, subdivision 1;
1.7proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116J; repealing
1.8Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 275.025, subdivisions 2, 4.
1.9BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:


1.13    Section 1. [116J.6911] PURPOSE.
1.14The purpose of this act is to assist the Minnesota Vikings in securing financing to
1.15build a privately owned, privately operated stadium as a venue for professional football.
1.16This assistance includes: (1) issuing revenue bonds secured by and to be repaid with
1.17revenues generated by user fees associated with attending games and events at the stadium,
1.18and (2) providing incentives for businesses to make contributions toward the expenses of
1.19constructing a stadium through reductions to the state general levy property tax and by
1.20exempting construction materials used in construction of a stadium from sales taxes. This
1.21assistance is provided in exchange for an agreement with the Minnesota Vikings that the
1.22stadium will be located in Minnesota, that the team will repay the financing, and will play
1.23all home games in the stadium until the bonds are repaid.

1.24    Sec. 2. [116J.6912] DEFINITIONS.
2.1    Subdivision 1. Commissioner. Unless otherwise specified, "commissioner" in
2.2sections 116J.6911 to 116J.699 means the commissioner of management and budget.
2.3    Subd. 2. Public infrastructure. "Public infrastructure" means all property,
2.4facilities, and improvements determined by the state to facilitate the development and use
2.5of the stadium, including, but not limited to, property and improvements for drainage,
2.6parking, roadways, walkways, skyways, pedestrian bridges, bicycle paths, lighting,
2.7landscaping, utilities, streets, streetscapes, and transit improvements to facilitate public
2.8access to the stadium.
2.9    Subd. 3. Stadium. "Stadium" means a facility suitable for National Football League
2.10games constructed or renovated under this act.
2.11    Subd. 4. Streetscape. "Streetscape" means improvements to streets and sidewalks
2.12or other public rights-of-way for the purpose of enhancing the movement, safety,
2.13convenience, or enjoyment of stadium patrons and other pedestrians, including decorative
2.14lighting and surfaces, plantings, display and exhibit space, adornments, seating, and transit
2.15and bus shelters, which are designated as streetscape by the state.
2.16    Subd. 5. Team. "Team" means the owner and operator of the football team currently
2.17known as the Minnesota Vikings or any team owned and operated by a person who
2.18purchases or otherwise takes ownership or control of or reconstitutes a National Football
2.19League team in Minnesota.
2.20EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.21    Sec. 3. [116J.694] STADIUM USER FEES.
2.22    Subdivision 1. Fee imposed. A fee is imposed on the sale or licensing of the
2.23following, sold in the state or online, at the rate of ten percent:
2.24(1) a ticket to attend a game or event in the stadium;
2.25(2) concessions sold at the stadium;
2.26(3) any licenses or fees charged by the team or league to reserve seats, boxes,
2.27suites or spaces including personal seat licenses, luxury box fees, club seating fees,
2.28seat/suite/box maintenance fees, memberships, or the like in the stadium;
2.29(4) sponsorships, including, but not limited to, naming rights for the stadium or
2.30parts of the stadium;
2.31(5) signage in or on the stadium;
2.32(6) charges for parking within one-half mile of the stadium on days that Minnesota
2.33Vikings games are played at the stadium;
2.34(7) the team's share of television and media revenue; and
2.35(8) stadium rental fees.
3.1    Subd. 2. Compensating use fee. If the fee is not paid under subdivision 1, a
3.2compensating fee is imposed on the possession for the sale or use of items used in
3.3subdivision 1, clauses (1), (3) to (6), and (8). The rate of the fee equals the rate in
3.4subdivision 1 and must be paid by the possessor or beneficiary of the item.
3.5    Subd. 3. Payment; annual return. The Minnesota Vikings, other vendors of
3.6products subject to a fee under subdivision 1, or possessors of items subject to a user
3.7fee under subdivision 2, must remit the fees to the state at the same time and in the
3.8same manner as provided for payment of tax under chapter 289A. Revenue from the fee
3.9imposed by this chapter must be remitted to the commissioner of revenue in a form and
3.10manner prescribed by the commissioner.
3.11    Subd. 4. Administration. The audit, assessment, interest, appeal, refund, penalty,
3.12enforcement, administrative, and collection provisions of chapters 270C and 297A, apply
3.13to the fees imposed under this section.
3.14    Subd. 5. Deposit of revenues. The commissioner of revenue shall deposit the
3.15revenues from the fees under this section in the state treasury and credit them to a special
3.16stadium revenue account dedicated to making debt service payments for bonds issued
3.17under this section.
3.18    Subd. 6. Use of fees. Revenues received from the fees imposed under this section
3.19must be used to pay, reimburse, or secure the payment of any principal of premium, or
3.20interest on bonds issued in accordance with this act. If the revenues received from the user
3.21fees of this section exceed the amount necessary for this purpose, remaining revenue shall
3.22be deposited in the state treasury in the special stadium debt service reserve account. If the
3.23special stadium debt service reserve account is fully funded, the remaining revenue shall
3.24be applied toward payoff of the bonds issued under this act.
3.25    Subd. 7. Sunset. This section expires when the bonds authorized under section
3.26116J.699 have been repaid, as determined by the commissioner.

3.27    Sec. 4. [116J.695] LOCAL SALES TAXES.
3.28No local sales or use tax may be imposed on sales at the stadium site, except a
3.29general sales tax permitted under section 297A.99.

3.30    Sec. 5. [116J.696] CITY REQUIREMENTS.
3.31The city in which the stadium is constructed or located shall issue intoxicating liquor
3.32licenses that are reasonably requested for the premises of the stadium. These licenses
3.33are in addition to the number authorized by law. All provisions of chapter 340A not
3.34inconsistent with this section apply to the licenses authorized under this subdivision.
4.1EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

4.2    Sec. 6. [116J.697] CRITERIA AND CONDITIONS.
4.3    Subdivision 1. Stadium location. The stadium must be located in the state of
4.4Minnesota.
4.5    Subd. 2. Continued use. All home games of the team must be played in the stadium
4.6for a period of 30 years, or until all bonds issued under this act are repaid, whichever
4.7is longer.
4.8    Subd. 3. Access to books and records. The team must provide access to the
4.9commissioner of management and budget to annual audited financial statements of the
4.10team and other financial books and records that the commissioner deems necessary to
4.11determine compliance by the team with this act and to enforce the terms of any agreements
4.12entered into under this act. Any financial information obtained by the commissioner under
4.13this subdivision is nonpublic data under section 13.02, subdivision 9.
4.14    Subd. 4. No strikes; lockouts. The commissioner must negotiate a public sector
4.15project labor agreement or other agreement to prevent strikes and lockouts that would halt,
4.16delay, or impede construction of the stadium and related facilities and public infrastructure.
4.17    Subd. 5. Name retention. In the event of any dissolution or relocation of the Vikings
4.18franchise, the team must cease use of the name, logo, and colors of the Minnesota Vikings
4.19and must transfer to the state of Minnesota the Minnesota Vikings heritage and records,
4.20including the name, logo, colors, history, playing records, trophies, and memorabilia.
4.21EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

4.22    Sec. 7. [116J.698] APPROPRIATION.
4.23    Subdivision 1. Appropriation for stadium construction. $300,000,000 is
4.24appropriated from the special stadium revenue bond proceeds account to the team for
4.25construction of a stadium suitable for professional football games. This appropriation is
4.26contingent upon execution of an agreement between the state and the team memorializing
4.27the team's obligations, consistent with this act and other terms as decided during
4.28negotiations. This appropriation is not available until the commissioner of management
4.29and budget determines that an amount sufficient to construct and equip the stadium is
4.30available from nonstate sources and that all other criteria and conditions specified in this
4.31act have been met.
4.32    Subd. 2. Appropriation for infrastructure. $........ is appropriated from the
4.33general fund for public infrastructure.
5.1EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

5.2    Sec. 8. [116J.699] BOND SALE.
5.3    Subdivision 1. Bonding authority. The commissioner of management and budget
5.4shall sell and issue state taxable revenue bonds in the amount up to $300,000,000, for
5.5the following purposes:
5.6(1) to provide the money appropriated in this act;
5.7(2) to pay the costs of issuance, debt service, and bond insurance or other credit
5.8enhancements, and to fund reserves; and
5.9(3) to refund bonds issued under this section.
5.10    Subd. 2. Procedure; certain costs of issuance. (a) The commissioner may sell and
5.11issue the bonds on the terms and conditions the commissioner determines to be in the best
5.12interest of the state. The bonds may be sold at public or private sale. The commissioner
5.13may enter into any agreements or pledges the commissioner determines necessary or
5.14useful to sell the bonds that are not inconsistent with sections 403.21 to 403.40. Sections
5.1516A.672 to 16A.675, apply to the bonds. Except for amounts appropriated to pay the costs
5.16of investment banking and banking services under section 16A.647, the proceeds of the
5.17bonds issued under this section must be credited to a special stadium bond proceeds
5.18account in the state treasury.
5.19(b) Before the proceeds are received in the special stadium bond proceeds account,
5.20the commissioner of management and budget may transfer to the account from the special
5.21stadium debt service reserve account amounts not exceeding the expected proceeds from
5.22the next bond sale. The commissioner of management and budget shall return these
5.23amounts to the special stadium debt service account by transferring proceeds when
5.24received. The amounts of these transfers are appropriated from the special stadium debt
5.25service reserve account and from the stadium revenue bond proceeds account.
5.26    Subd. 3. Revenue sources. The debt service on the bonds is payable only from the
5.27following sources:
5.28(1) revenue credited to the special stadium revenue account from the fees imposed
5.29and collected under this act, or from any other source; and
5.30(2) other revenues pledged to the payment of the bonds.
5.31    Subd. 4. Refunding bonds. The commissioner may issue bonds to refund
5.32outstanding bonds issued under subdivision 1, including the payment of any redemption
5.33premiums on the bonds and any interest accrued or to accrue to the first redemption date
5.34after delivery of the refunding bonds. The proceeds of the refunding bonds may, in the
5.35discretion of the commissioner, be applied to the purchases or payment at maturity of the
6.1bonds to be refunded, or the redemption of the outstanding bonds on the first redemption
6.2date after delivery of the refunding bonds and may, until so used, be placed in escrow to
6.3be applied to the purchase, retirement, or redemption. Refunding bonds issued under this
6.4subdivision must be issued and secured in the manner provided by the commissioner.
6.5    Subd. 5. Not a general obligation. Bonds issued under this section are not public
6.6debt and are not to be backed by the full faith and credit of the state. Debt service
6.7payments on bonds issued under this section will be made from the special stadium
6.8revenue fund. The state will, however, maintain a special stadium debt service reserve
6.9account having a balance equal to the annual debt service payment owed on these bonds.
6.10The special stadium debt service reserve account will be funded by contributions from
6.11private parties and from revenues as provided in section 116J.694. If the special stadium
6.12revenue fund has a shortfall in any year, the commissioner may request appropriation from
6.13the special stadium debt service reserve account to cover the shortfall.
6.14    Subd. 6. Public purpose. The legislature finds and declares the state's role in
6.15issuing revenue bonds and making debt service payments under this act are for a necessary
6.16and public purpose by adding value to the culture of the state; providing a valuable
6.17recreational opportunity for residents to feel connected to and take pride in a professional
6.18team bearing the name of the state; and providing the state visibility and a prestigious
6.19marker to those outside of the state and thereby serves as a marketing vehicle for tourism
6.20in the state and for recruitment of employees.
6.21    Subd. 7. Specific performance of contractual obligations to play home games in
6.22stadium. The legislature finds and declares that any provision in any statute, local law, or
6.23agreement with a professional football team or league that requires the team to play all
6.24of its home games in the stadium constructed using funds appropriated under this act for
6.25a period of 30 years or until the bonds have been repaid, whichever is longer, serves a
6.26unique public purpose for which the remedies of specific performance and injunctive relief
6.27are essential to its enforcement and to obtaining the benefits of the state's consideration.
6.28The legislature further finds and declares that government assistance to facilitate the
6.29presence of professional football provides to the state of Minnesota, its residents, and its
6.30businesses highly valued, intangible benefits that are virtually impossible to quantify and,
6.31therefore, not recoverable even if the government receives monetary damages in the event
6.32of a team's breach of contract. Minnesota courts are, therefore, charged with protecting
6.33those benefits through the use of specific performance and injunctive relief as provided in
6.34this chapter and in any agreements.
7.1    Subd. 8. Trustee. The commissioner may contract with and appoint a trustee for
7.2bondholders. The trustee has the powers and authority vested in it by the commissioner
7.3under the bond and trust indentures.
7.4    Subd. 9. Pledges. Any pledge made by the commissioner is valid and binding
7.5from the time the pledge is made. The money or property pledged and later received by
7.6the commissioner is immediately subject to the lien of the pledge without any physical
7.7delivery of the property or money or further act, and the lien of any pledge is valid and
7.8binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise
7.9against the commissioner, whether or not those parties have notice of the lien or pledge.
7.10Neither the order nor any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded.
7.11    Subd. 10. Bonds; purchase and cancellation. The commissioner, subject to
7.12agreements with bondholders that may then exist, may, out of any money available for the
7.13purpose, purchase bonds of the commissioner at a price not exceeding: (1) if the bonds are
7.14then redeemable, the redemption price then applicable plus accrued interest to the next
7.15interest payment date thereon; or (2) if the bonds are not redeemable, the redemption price
7.16applicable on the first date after the purchase, upon which the bonds become subject to
7.17redemption plus accrued interest to that date.
7.18    Subd. 11. State pledge against impairment of contracts. The state pledges and
7.19agrees with the holders of any bonds that the state will not limit or alter the rights vested in
7.20the commissioner to fulfill the terms of any agreements made with the bondholders, or
7.21in any way impair the rights and remedies of the holders until the bonds, together with
7.22interest on them, with interest on any unpaid installments of interest, and all costs and
7.23expenses in connection with any action or proceeding by or on behalf of the bondholders,
7.24are fully met and discharged. The commissioner may include this pledge and agreement
7.25of the state in any agreement with the holders of bonds issued under this section.
7.26EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

7.27    Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 297A.71, is amended by adding a subdivision
7.28to read:
7.29    Subd. 43. Building materials; exemption. Materials and supplies used or
7.30consumed in, and equipment incorporated into, the construction or improvement of
7.31the stadium and public infrastructure constructed pursuant to this act are exempt. This
7.32subdivision expires one year after the date that the first professional football game is
7.33played in the stadium and applies to materials, supplies, and equipment used in the
7.34stadium, and five years after the issuance of the first bonds under this act for materials,
7.35supplies, and equipment used in the public infrastructure.

8.1    Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2011 Supplement, section 340A.404, subdivision 1,
8.2is amended to read:
8.3    Subdivision 1. Cities. (a) A city may issue an on-sale intoxicating liquor license to
8.4the following establishments located within its jurisdiction:
8.5(1) hotels;
8.6(2) restaurants;
8.7(3) bowling centers;
8.8(4) clubs or congressionally chartered veterans organizations with the approval of
8.9the commissioner, provided that the organization has been in existence for at least three
8.10years and liquor sales will only be to members and bona fide guests, except that a club
8.11may permit the general public to participate in a wine tasting conducted at the club under
8.12section 340A.419;
8.13(5) sports facilities hosting National Football League games;
8.14(5) (6) sports facilities located on land owned by the Metropolitan Sports
8.15Commission; and
8.16(6) (7) exclusive liquor stores.
8.17(b) A city may issue an on-sale intoxicating liquor license, an on-sale wine license,
8.18or an on-sale malt liquor license to a theater within the city, notwithstanding any law, local
8.19ordinance, or charter provision. A license issued under this paragraph authorizes sales on
8.20all days of the week to persons attending events at the theater.
8.21(c) A city may issue an on-sale intoxicating liquor license, an on-sale wine license,
8.22or an on-sale malt liquor license to a convention center within the city, notwithstanding
8.23any law, local ordinance, or charter provision. A license issued under this paragraph
8.24authorizes sales on all days of the week to persons attending events at the convention
8.25center. This paragraph does not apply to convention centers located in the seven-county
8.26metropolitan area.
8.27(d) A city may issue an on-sale wine license and an on-sale malt liquor license to
8.28a person who is the owner of a summer collegiate league baseball team, or to a person
8.29holding a concessions or management contract with the owner, for beverage sales at a
8.30ballpark or stadium located within the city for the purposes of summer collegiate league
8.31baseball games at the ballpark or stadium, notwithstanding any law, local ordinance, or
8.32charter provision. A license issued under this paragraph authorizes sales on all days of the
8.33week to persons attending baseball games at the ballpark or stadium.


9.3    Section 1. PURPOSE.
9.4The purpose of this article is to provide an incentive through property tax relief to
9.5Minnesota businesses to contribute to a fund for construction of a Vikings stadium and for
9.6repayment of bonds issued under this act.

9.7    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 275.025, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
9.8    Subdivision 1. Levy amount. The state general levy is levied against
9.9commercial-industrial property and seasonal residential recreational property, as defined
9.10in this section. The state general levy base amount is $592,000,000 for taxes payable
9.11in 2002. For taxes payable in subsequent years before 2014, the levy base amount is
9.12increased each year by multiplying the levy base amount for the prior year by the sum
9.13of one plus the rate of increase, if any, in the implicit price deflator for government
9.14consumption expenditures and gross investment for state and local governments prepared
9.15by the Bureau of Economic Analysts of the United States Department of Commerce for
9.16the 12-month period ending March 31 of the year prior to the year the taxes are payable.
9.17The tax under this section is not treated as a local tax rate under section 469.177 and is not
9.18the levy of a governmental unit under chapters 276A and 473F.
9.19The state general levy base is $42,000,000 for seasonal residential recreational
9.20property for taxes payable in 2014 and thereafter. The state general levy base is
9.21$717,300,000 for commercial-industrial property for taxes payable in 2014; $637,600,000
9.22for taxes payable in 2015; $557,900,000 for taxes payable in 2016; $478,200,000 for taxes
9.23payable in 2017; $398,500,000 for taxes payable in 2018; $318,800,000 for taxes payable
9.24in 2019; $239,100,000 for taxes payable in 2020; $159,400,000 for taxes payable in 2021;
9.25and $79,700,000 for taxes payable in 2022.
9.26The commissioner shall increase or decrease the preliminary or final rate for a year
9.27as necessary to account for errors and tax base changes that affected a preliminary or final
9.28rate for either of the two preceding years. Adjustments are allowed to the extent that the
9.29necessary information is available to the commissioner at the time the rates for a year must
9.30be certified, and for the following reasons:
9.31(1) an erroneous report of taxable value by a local official;
9.32(2) an erroneous calculation by the commissioner; and
9.33(3) an increase or decrease in taxable value for commercial-industrial or seasonal
9.34residential recreational property reported on the abstracts of tax lists submitted under
10.1section 275.29 that was not reported on the abstracts of assessment submitted under
10.2section 270C.89 for the same year.
10.3The commissioner may, but need not, make adjustments if the total difference in the tax
10.4levied for the year would be less than $100,000.
10.5EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for taxes levied in 2013, payable in
10.62014 and thereafter.

10.7    Sec. 3. REPEALER.
10.8Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 275.025, subdivisions 2 and 4, are repealed.
10.9EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective for taxes levied in 2022, payable in
10.102023 and thereafter.