Committee approves bill to create Burnside Island Development Authority to boost tourism

The standing committee on economic development, labor and tourism reported House Bill 808 with a favorable recommendation to the full Senate after hearing from the sponsor and private attorneys representing Dream Big Burnside.

Representative Ken Upchurch, sponsor of the measure, described House Bill 808 as establishing the Burnside Island Development Authority, “an independent municipal corporation, with political subdivisions attached to the Department of Local Government for administrative purposes.” The authority’s stated mission in the presentation is “to develop, finance, operate, maintain and promote lodging, restaurant facilities and recreational amenities to boost economic development [and] tourism in the Pulaski County, Lake Cumberland area.”

Jason Halligan, a public-private partnership attorney at Frost Brown Todd, and Steve Robertson of the same firm were present on behalf of Dream Big Burnside. Committee members asked how revenues and private partnerships would be handled and whether proceeds would stay at Burnside or be spread across the state park system. Halligan said direct revenues collected by the authority “would go back into the authority to be used for the purposes of this bill,” while acknowledging indirect tax and economic benefits would flow more broadly.

Committee members also discussed a feasibility study paid for with a $100,000 appropriation from the prior legislative session. Presenters said the feasibility study was completed late last year and that preliminary findings suggested demand for lodging at the site — the study recommended at least a hotel facility exceeding 20 keys plus cabins. One presenter described projected private investment from the study as about $5,060,000,000 and said the indirect economic and tax benefits could total “several hundred millions of dollars.” The committee record does not include the feasibility study text; the presenters said Dream Big Burnside was finalizing its report.

After questions and brief discussion, the clerk called the roll and the committee recorded a favorable report to the floor. Committee members recorded support while noting continued review by appropriations and revenue committees would be required for any state funding decisions. The committee's favorable report advances House Bill 808 to further legislative consideration.