Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes professional sports teams to bid for state funds, effective immediately.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a unit of local government, a “beneficiary,” or another entity that is responsible for the construction, management, or operation of a sports facility located on public land to apply for state funding for the facility’s construction, renovation, or improvement (Sec. 3).

• Defines “beneficiary” as a professional sports franchise of certain nationally recognized sports associations including, but not limited to, the following associations (Sec. 3):
• The National Football League;
• Major League Soccer; and
• The National Hockey League.

• Requires the Department of Economic Opportunity to establish application and screening procedures for applicants seeking state funding for a sports facility, and submit recommended applications to the legislature for approval (Sec. 3).

• Requires applicants to be “competitively” evaluated and ranked based on certain factors including, but not limited to, the following factors (Sec. 3):
• The number and type of major events the facility is likely to attract;
• The potential to attract out-of-state visitors to the facility; and
• The facility’s projected employment of state residents.

• Requires a unit of local government to pass any required resolution and referendum vote before they are authorized to receive state funding for a sports facility (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that approved state funding will be distributed annually in an amount equal to the sales taxes generated by sales at the facility, up to the following amounts (Sec. 3):
• $3 million, if the total project cost is $200 million or greater;
• $2 million, if the total project cost is at least $100 million but less than $200 million; and
• $1 million, if the total project cost is less than $100 million.

• Authorizes a county to increase an existing hotel room occupancy tax by up to 1 percent in order to pay for bonds issued to finance the renovation of a professional sports facility that is publicly owned or located on public land, if both of the following approvals are given (Sec. 1):
• Approval by a majority plus 1 vote by the board of county commissioners; and
• Approval by a majority of electors in a referendum vote. 

Full Bill Text