Local and state governments will get a small boost in revenue for events held in stadiums, arenas and other publicly-owned buildings, and provided a small revenue stream to universities, under a measure passed by the Senate, 89-8, and sent to Gov. John Bel Edwards to sign into law.
Senate Bill 22 taxes sales at non-athletic events held in publicly-owned buildings like the Superdome, Tiger Stadium and CenturyLink Center. Previously, sales at these events were exempt from taxation.
The bill leaves in place the sales tax exemptions on tickets, merchandise and other sales at athletic events like baseball or football games. Additionally, 50 percent of the cost of tickets to non-athletic events are exempted.
The House adopted an amendment proposed by Rep. Neil Abramson, D-New Orleans, which gives the proceeds from local sales taxes at events affiliated with universities back to the universities.
For example, sales taxes collected at a concert held in Tiger Stadium or the Cajun Dome will go back to LSU or ULL, respectively. The state sales tax would go to state coffers.