SCS/SB 782 - Current law requires a petition for the creation of a community improvement district to be signed by more than fifty percent of all owners of real property within the boundaries of a district. This act provides that such requirement shall not apply if the district is to be designated as an entertainment district. An "entertainment district" is defined as an area located in the city of St. Louis, within the area locally known as the city's downtown or central business district, which contains a minimum of one hundred acres and a combination of entertainment venues, including, but not limited to, arenas, amusement centers, auditoriums, athletic facilities, bars, hotels, concert halls, convention facilities, music venues, nightclubs, restaurants, and other entertainment facilities. (Section 67.1421) The act provides that any district which is an entertainment district shall have the power to hire and train public safety personnel to enforce the laws of the state, municipality, and the district, including laws relating to curfews, unaccompanied minors, public spaces, the operation of motor vehicles, and other public safety matters. Entertainment districts shall not have the power to impose any tax. (Section 67.1461)
Finally, the act authorizes the various state departments to expend funds for the purpose of promoting, developing, and supporting entertainment tourism, as such term is defined in the act, within any entertainment district, and for which application is made and approved by the Department no later than August 28, 2027. Any annual expenditure by a department for entertainment tourism shall be limited to a portion of tax revenues derived directly or indirectly from any such promotion, development, and support of entertainment tourism supported by such annual expenditure within the designated entertainment district, as stated in an agreement entered into between the district and the department. The term of state appropriations under any such agreement shall not exceed twenty-seven years, and the annual amount of the state appropriation authorized under the act shall not exceed $2.5 million per year for any fiscal year ending on or before June 30, 2031, and $4.5 million per year for any fiscal year thereafter. No such appropriation shall be made prior to July 1, 2026.
Any promotion, development, and support of entertainment tourism shall be determined to produce a positive net fiscal impact for the state over the term of the agreement, with such public or private assurances as the Department may reasonably require.
The Department of Economic Development shall make an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly within ninety days of the end of each fiscal year detailing whether such promotion, development, and support of entertainment tourism produced a positive net fiscal impact for the state in the prior fiscal year and projecting the overall net fiscal impact to the state over the term of such agreement. (Section 67.1505)
This act is identical to HCS/HBs 1524 & 1580 (2025) and to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 643 (2025).
JOSH NORBERG