House approves SB 2,006 renaming athletic commission, separates wrestling from boxing and adjusts fees

The House approved Senate Bill 2,006 as amended, a measure that renames the Professional Athletic Commission the Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission and changes fees and taxes applied to boxing and wrestling events. The amendment adopted during floor debate separates boxing (regulated as a sport under the commission) from wrestling (treated as entertainment), repeals a $1 per-ticket tax and certain television/motion-picture fees, and raises the promoter fee from 4% to 5% to keep the change revenue neutral. The final vote was 49 yes and 21 no; the bill was referred to the Senate for further consideration of two Senate amendments.

Sponsor Representative Goodfellow argued the bill would promote boxing in Utah and allow worldwide wrestling events to negotiate contracts with venues, which the sponsor said will benefit the E Center and West Valley economy. "We're not trying to create any more revenue," the sponsor said; the sponsor described the package as revenue neutral because the promoter fee increase offsets repealed taxes.

Opponents and some questioners pressed for clarity on oversight and allocation: Representative Yer (spelled variably in the transcript) asked who would determine what portion of revenues would go to boxing versus wrestling promotion. The sponsor replied that boxing revenues would go to the commission to promote boxing, while wrestling promotion would be handled through private contracts similar to rock concerts. The House initially failed a suspension motion to lift the bill from committee on a voice vote, called a division, and then recorded a 41–28 result to place the bill on the Senate third-reading calendar; after floor amendment and debate the bill passed as amended.

The Journal notes the bill will be referred to the Senate for acceptance of two amendments and enrolling.