SB290 Summary

• Authorizes counties and municipalities to establish tourism improvement districts that levy assessments on businesses to fund tourism promotion, public events, marketing, and economic development activities.

• Requires creation of a district plan including boundaries, proposed activities and costs, assessment method, and business types subject to assessment, with maximum terms of 10 years for new districts and 20 years for renewed districts.

• Mandates public hearings with at least 30 days' notice to business owners before district establishment or renewal, with authority blocked if a majority consortium (60% of assessments plus 55% of businesses) files written protests.

• Allows districts to incur debt for improvements up to the amount of estimated 30-year assessment revenue, with assessments for debt repayment protected from reduction or termination.

• Permits district dissolution only when there is no debt and either misappropriation of funds or violation of law occurs, with owners able to petition for dissolution during designated 30-day periods beginning two years after establishment and annually thereafter.