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House approves measure encouraging counties to report in-state vs. out-of-state tourism spending after amendment
Summary
After floor debate and a friendly amendment changing mandatory language to 'is encouraged to,' the House passed HB 14 asking counties with large transient room tax revenues to report in-state versus out-of-state tourism spending; vote was 40–30 in favor.
Lawmakers debated House Bill 14, a measure aimed at improving data about tourism spending and how counties allocate transient room tax (TRT/TRCC) revenues. The sponsor said the bill does not strip county authority but asks counties with significant TRT/TRCC collections to submit analysis showing how much tourism spending is from in-state versus out-of-state visitors. The sponsor characterized the measure as an encouragement rather than a mandate and said better data would help policy choices about potential additional statewide tourism taxes.
Representative (mover of the amendment) proposed a floor amendment to soften mandatory language: replace the word "shall" with "is encouraged to" and explicitly include the division, cities, and counties in the data collection language. Multiple members supported the amendment as a friendly compromise that would give counties time to work with reports already underway and avoid duplicative mandates.
Representative Snow and others emphasized that in-state visitors matter to some local economies and opposed any reading that would minimize in-state promotion. Supporters argued standardizing data would help the state coordinate promotion and achieve better return on investment. After debate, the House approved the amended measure. The clerk recorded House Bill 14 as having received 40 yes votes and 30 no votes; the bill will be transmitted to the Senate.
Next steps: HB 14 passed the House floor and was to be referred to the Senate for further consideration.
