Subcommittee extends sunset for Quality Events incentive; sponsor cites ROI

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.