[St. Paul, MN] – Today, Senator Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown) presented legislation to the Senate Tax Committee aimed at providing much-needed financial relief for small, family-owned lake resorts in Minnesota. The bill, which increases the property tax exemption for these businesses, was successfully amended onto the Senate’s tax mini-omnibus bill, Senate File 132, and has now been sent to the Senate floor for further consideration.
“Minnesota’s lakes and great outdoors are our greatest resource,” said Senator Hauschild. “They attract countless visitors, support local economies, and offer families lifelong memories. But our small, family-owned resorts—the very businesses that help make these experiences possible—are disappearing.”
Minnesota was once home to more than 3,000 family-owned resorts, but today, fewer than 600 remain statewide. Rising property taxes, increasing operational costs, and development pressures have made it harder for small resort owners to stay in business. These mom-and-pop resorts are not only a gateway for middle-class families to enjoy the outdoors but also a key driver of rural economies, providing seasonal and year-round jobs in their communities.
Senator Hauschild, who grew up spending time at his grandparents’ lake cabin in Otter Tail County, understands firsthand the importance of these resorts.
“My grandparents’ cabin was right next to a family-owned resort, and I grew up watching families return year after year to experience the magic of Minnesota’s lakes,” Hauschild shared. “These resorts aren’t just businesses—they are part of our state’s identity and an essential way for working families to connect with the outdoors. We need to do everything we can to support them.”
The proposed property tax exemption has a negligible impact on the state budget but would provide a meaningful financial lifeline to small resort owners. By reducing their tax burden, the measure aims to help preserve these businesses, ensuring that future generations can continue to experience Minnesota’s lakes in an intimate, family-friendly setting.
With bipartisan support, the tax relief measure (SF 2076) was successfully amended onto Senate File 132, which passed out of committee and is now headed to the Senate floor for further debate.
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Learn more about Sen. Hauschild.
