HF2959

Purpose of the Bill

This bill aims to modify how data related to income property assessments is handled during property tax proceedings in Minnesota. The bill focuses on ensuring that specific data is protected from public disclosure while allowing necessary access during legal proceedings.

Main Provisions

• Data Classification: The bill classifies certain data about income properties as private or nonpublic. This includes detailed income and expense figures, vacancy rates, net rentable areas, anticipated income and expenses, and lease information.

• Legal Discovery Requests: It outlines that parties involved in legal disputes can request this private data for discovery purposes, but must notify property owners. The data cannot be withheld simply because it is classified as private.

• Use and Dissemination Restrictions: Accessed data must not be used outside the legal proceedings or shared with unauthorized individuals.

• Protective Orders: The Tax Court is required to issue protective orders to prevent the public disclosure of sensitive data. These orders limit how the data can be accessed and used during court proceedings.

• Access to Assessor Records: Assessor records, including real estate value certificates and appraisal cards, are to be made available for discovery and trial without being restricted as private or confidential.

• Information Submission for Petitioners: Petitioners must provide specific financial information related to income-producing properties to the county assessor by August 1 of the taxes payable year. Failure to provide this information may result in dismissal of the petition unless justified.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Increased Data Protection: The bill intensifies the protection of sensitive property data by stipulating how it can be accessed and ensuring it is not publicly disclosed during court proceedings.

• Procedural Requirements for Petitioners: It imposes stricter requirements on what financial information property owners must supply, and establishes deadlines and consequences for non-compliance.

Relevant Terms

• Data protection
• Nonpublic data
• Legal discovery
• Protective order
• Income property assessment
• Tax Court proceedings
• Assessor records
• Financial data submission