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Committee amends and advances measure to redirect 1% of live-entertainment tax revenue to Nevada Arts Council
Summary
In work session, the committee approved an amendment to Assembly Bill 219 to distribute 1% of total live-entertainment tax revenue to the Nevada Arts Council in place of a fixed non-gaming allocation; the motion to amend and do pass carried despite several recorded 'nay' votes.
The Assembly Committee on Revenue considered a work session amendment to Assembly Bill 219, a measure to change how live-entertainment tax revenue is distributed to the Nevada Arts Council.
What the amendment does: The proposed amendment would replace the prior fixed allocation (a $150,000 annual allocation from the non-gaming portion of the live-entertainment tax) with a formulaic distribution that provides 1% of total live-entertainment tax revenue generated from both gaming and non-gaming establishments in the prior fiscal year to the Nevada Arts Council. The amendment also specifies that those funds be distributed as grants to artists and local arts agencies and that the Arts Council not supplant funding from other sources with this new allocation.
Committee action: The committee considered a motion to amend and do pass the bill with the proposed changes. During roll call and discussion several members said they would vote no or reserve judgment. Assemblymember O'Neil announced a 'no' vote on record and Assemblymember Flanagan said she would stand and vote no at the moment; other members indicated varying positions during the verbal vote. The chair recorded negative votes from Assemblymembers O'Neil, Flanagan, Hafen and Gray and the motion carried. A floor statement was assigned to Assemblymember Watts.
Why it matters: The change would move the Arts Council from a fixed small non-gaming allocation to a share of the overall live-entertainment tax receipts, potentially tying Arts Council funding to statewide entertainment activity and increasing funding in growth years.
Ending: The committee advanced the amended bill to the floor and assigned a floor statement; members asked staff and sponsors to track fiscal impacts for floor debate.
