Senator proposes voluntary ticket surcharge to fund state arts programs; arts groups suggest simpler donation checkbox

Senate Bill 633 would create a voluntary per-ticket surcharge and a state fund to support the Division of the Arts and the State Council on the Arts. Senator David Waters, who introduced the bill, framed it as a way to provide sustainable funding without a recurring state appropriation.

Waters said arts organizations he consulted worried about donor fatigue and overlapping fundraising programs; his bill would let theaters or venues add a small per-ticket surcharge (draft described as 50 cents) and route collections into a supervised fund for grants and statewide arts programs.

Several committee members and stakeholders pressed for drafting clarifications — including whether the surcharge is 50 cents or a percent of the ticket price, how the fund would be administered, and whether an existing grant or fund could be used. Waters said he had discussed alternatives with venues and suggested a simpler option: at checkout, a box patrons could check to donate a dollar to the arts council, with the fund created in statute to accept those earmarked donations.

Departmental and nonprofit governance questions surfaced: some arts organizations told the sponsor that bylaws could limit soliciting for other nonprofits, and committee members asked whether existing state grant or donation mechanisms might be repurposed. Waters agreed to follow up with stakeholders and Ticketmaster on administration details.

The committee did not take final action at the hearing; the sponsor said he would refine language with stakeholders.