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HF3381 • 2026

Nonprofit sales and use tax exemption modified to provide that certain purchases of prepared food by nonprofit organizations are exempt.

Nonprofit sales and use tax exemption modified to provide that certain purchases of prepared food by nonprofit organizations are exempt.

Taxes
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Johnson, W., Davids, Rehrauer, Norris, Freiberg, Warwas, Youakim
Last action
2026-05-04
Official status
Author added Youakim
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on whether other parts of the existing sales and use tax exemptions for nonprofits are changed by this bill.

Nonprofit Sales Tax Exemption for Prepared Food

The bill changes Minnesota law to exempt nonprofit organizations from paying sales tax on certain purchases of prepared food if the food is distributed as part of their charitable, religious, or educational activities.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes Minnesota law so nonprofits do not need to pay sales tax on certain purchases of prepared food.
  • Specifies that the exemption applies only if the prepared food is distributed by the nonprofit organization in the performance of its exempt purpose.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Nonprofit organizations in Minnesota
  • Businesses that sell prepared food to nonprofits

Terms To Know

nonprofit organization
A group organized and operated for charitable, religious, or educational purposes without making a profit.
prepared food
Food that is ready to eat, like meals served at an event.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill only affects sales and purchases made after June 30, 2026.
  • It does not specify what types of prepared food qualify for the exemption beyond being used in charitable, religious, or educational activities.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-04 House

    Author added Youakim

  2. 2026-03-23 House

    Author added Warwas

  3. 2026-03-12 House

    Author added Freiberg

  4. 2026-03-02 House

    Author added Norris

  5. 2026-02-23 House

    Author added Rehrauer

  6. 2026-02-19 House

    Author added Davids

  7. 2026-02-17 House

    Introduction and first reading, referred to Taxes

Official Summary Text

Nonprofit sales and use tax exemption modified to provide that certain purchases of prepared food by nonprofit organizations are exempt.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
A bill for an act

relating to taxation; sales and use; modifying the nonprofit exemption to provide

that certain purchases of prepared food by nonprofit organizations are exempt;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 297A.70, subdivision 4.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 297A.70, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Sales to nonprofit groups.

(a) All sales, except those listed in paragraph (b),

to the following "nonprofit organizations" are exempt:

(1) a corporation, society, association, foundation, or institution organized and operated

exclusively for charitable, religious, or educational purposes if the item purchased is used

in the performance of charitable, religious, or educational functions;

(2) any senior citizen group or association of groups that:

(i) in general limits membership to persons who are either age 55 or older, or persons

with a physical disability;

(ii) is organized and operated exclusively for pleasure, recreation, and other nonprofit

purposes, not including housing, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit

of any private shareholders; and

(iii) is an exempt organization under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code; and

(3) an organization that qualifies for an exemption for memberships under subdivision

12 if the item is purchased and used in the performance of the organization's mission.

For purposes of this subdivision, charitable purpose includes the maintenance of a cemetery

owned by a religious organization.

(b) This exemption does not apply to the following sales:

(1) building, construction, or reconstruction materials purchased by a contractor or a

subcontractor as a part of a lump-sum contract or similar type of contract with a guaranteed

maximum price covering both labor and materials for use in the construction, alteration, or

repair of a building or facility;

(2) construction materials purchased by tax-exempt entities or their contractors to be

used in constructing buildings or facilities that will not be used principally by the tax-exempt

entities;

(3) lodging as defined under section
297A.61, subdivision 3
, paragraph (g), clause (2),

prepared food, candy, soft drinks, taxable cannabis products as defined under section
295.81,

subdivision 1
, paragraph (r), and alcoholic beverages as defined in section
297A.67,

subdivision 2
, except wine purchased by an established religious organization for sacramental

purposes or as allowed under subdivision 9a; and

(4) leasing of a motor vehicle as defined in section
297B.01, subdivision 11
, except as

provided in paragraph (c).

(c) This exemption applies to the leasing of a motor vehicle as defined in section
297B.01,

subdivision 11
, only if the vehicle is:

(1) a truck, as defined in section
168.002
, a bus, as defined in section
168.002
, or a

passenger automobile, as defined in section
168.002
, if the automobile is designed and used

for carrying more than nine persons including the driver; and

(2) intended to be used primarily to transport tangible personal property or individuals,

other than employees, to whom the organization provides service in performing its charitable,

religious, or educational purpose.

(d) A limited liability company also qualifies for exemption under this subdivision if

(1) it consists of a sole member that would qualify for the exemption, and (2) the items

purchased qualify for the exemption.

new text begin

(e) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), clause (3), a sale of prepared food is exempt if

purchased by an organization exempt under paragraph (a), clause (1), and the prepared food

is distributed by the organization in the performance of the organization's exempt purpose.

new text end

new text begin

EFFECTIVE DATE.

new text end

new text begin

This section is effective for sales and purchases made after June

30, 2026.

new text end