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Senate advances bill letting public universities keep sales tax on athletics to support women's programs
Summary
Senate debate and testimony moved substitute SB 34 to third reading after athletic directors and sponsor argued allowing universities to retain sales tax on ticket sales would help meet Title IX commitments; roll call recorded 28 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent.
Senators advanced a measure that would allow public higher‑education institutions to retain sales tax generated from athletic event tickets and use those funds to bolster women's athletic programs. Sponsor Senator Hilliard said the bill is intended as a targeted way to help institutions meet federal Title IX requirements without direct state appropriations.
Hilliard told colleagues the idea grew from discussions with university athletic directors and recalled a 1989 agreement under which some institutions voluntarily covered sales tax on tickets. He said the exemption is not intended to send state funds directly to private institutions such as Brigham Young University and that, at the governor's request, an earmark amendment would require state institutions to use retained revenue for gender equity and Title IX compliance.
University athletic officials who visited the chamber described the financial pressure of meeting federal gender‑equity mandates and urged support. Dr. Chris Hill of the University of Utah and Rondo Felberg of Brigham Young University said the retained revenues would give their women's programs a stable revenue source and a state signal of support; Weber State athletic director John Johnson said smaller programs face the same compliance pressures.
Questions on the Senate floor addressed how the change would work in practice. Senators were told ticket prices would not necessarily change for consumers; institutions would simply retain sales tax receipts they now remit to the state. Hilliard acknowledged the bill carried a fiscal note and cited a rough estimate of “about $400‑something thousand” in foregone general‑fund revenue, and he said the State Tax Commission would monitor compliance if a dedication were adopted.
After debate and questions, the Senate called the question on substitute SB 34. A roll call produced 28 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent; the substitute bill moved to the third‑reading calendar.
