SB231 Summary

• Authorizes one or more municipalities, counties, or combinations thereof to form a public authority for promoting and developing tourism by resolution of their governing bodies.

• Establishes a board of directors consisting of 1-5 members per municipality (based on $70,000 per board seat of annual lodging tax collections) and 2-4 members from unincorporated county areas, with appointment powers vested in respective municipal and county governing bodies.

• Grants the authority powers to conduct tourism programs and events, enter into contracts, own and manage property, accept gifts and funds, borrow money, and provide funding to third parties for tourism promotion, but prohibits the authority from exercising eminent domain.

• Requires board members to serve without compensation but allows reimbursement for actual expenses; restricts representation to limit elected officials to one per municipality and lodging business owners to two per municipality.

• Takes effect immediately upon passage and gubernatorial approval.