The subcommittee voted to pass Senate Bill 578, which extends the sunset date on the state's Quality Events incentive program.

Representative Kelly, the sponsor, said the program requires a local community to apply beforehand and to submit a post-event study. He told members the program has produced a positive return, saying, "from 2018 to 2024, the, state actually gained 395,000 in ROI." Kelly said the program targets new, championship-level events, and cited the Cattlemen's Congress as an example of an event incentivized to locate in-state.

Members asked about costs and return. Representative Will asked about ROI; Kelly described the data and said communities submit extensive studies after events. Representative Hall asked whether events would have occurred without incentives; Kelly replied his understanding is that the targeted events would not have located in-state without the incentive.

The committee adopted a do-pass recommendation. The clerk recorded eight ayes and two nays and the chair declared the bill passed the subcommittee.