Pennsylvania SB 783: An Act establishing tourism improvement districts and tourism improvement district management associations; and providing for powers of counties, for powers of tourism improvement district management associations, for dissolution of tourism improvement district and for annual audit.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 889
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 783
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY ROBINSON, BARTOLOTTA, CULVER, LAUGHLIN, KEARNEY,
MILLER, STEFANO AND HUTCHINSON, JUNE 3, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMUNITY, ECONOMIC AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
JUNE 3, 2025
AN ACT
Establishing tourism improvement districts and tourism
improvement district management associations; and providing
for powers of counties, for powers of tourism improvement
district management associations, for dissolution of tourism
improvement district and for annual audit.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Tourism
Improvement District Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Authority." A body politic and corporate, created under 53
Pa.C.S. Ch. 56 (relating to municipal authorities).
"Benefited business." A hotel, as defined under section 209
of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax
Reform Code of 1971, that is located within a tourism
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

improvement district and benefits from tourism improvement
district activities as outlined in the tourism improvement
district plan.
"County." A county located within this Commonwealth.
"Nonprofit corporation." A legal entity that is incorporated
in this Commonwealth and specifies in its charter or bylaws that
no part of the net earnings may benefit a private shareholder or
individual holding an interest in the entity.
"Special assessment fee." The fee assessed on benefited
businesses levied by the county establishing a tourism
improvement district for the purposes of providing tourism
activities.
"Substantial amendment." An amendment to a preliminary plan
or an amendment to a final plan that does any of the following:
(1) Removes or adds tourism activities to be provided in
a tourism improvement district.
(2) Increases expenditures in a tourism improvement
district management association's budget by more than 25% for
a single fiscal year.
(3) Incurs additional indebtedness.
(4) Changes the method for determining the amount of the
special assessment fee.
(5) Change of the tourism improvement district
management association that administers tourism activities
within the tourism improvement district.
(6) Changes the tourism improvement district's
geographic boundary.
(7) Changes the characteristics of a benefited business.
"Total room inventory." The number of rooms available for
occupancy across the benefited business within a tourism
20250SB0783PN0889 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

improvement district.
"Tourism activities." An activity, service or improvement
that provides a benefit to benefited businesses, including any
of the following:
(1) Marketing, sales, event promotion and other
promotional programs designed to increase tourism in a
tourism improvement district.
(2) Funding of special events designed to increase
tourism in a tourism improvement district.
(3) Destination product development activities designed
to improve the visitor experience in a tourism improvement
district.
(4) The personnel and administrative support necessary
to provide tourism activities.
(5) The funding of improvements, including the
acquisition, construction, installation or maintenance
relating to tangible property, with an estimated useful life
of five years or more that is designed to provide benefits to
assessed businesses.
(6) Any other activity, service or improvement that is
designed to increase tourism in a tourism improvement
district.
"Tourism improvement district" or "TID." A geographical area
encompassing benefited businesses as proposed in a tourism
improvement district plan and approved by a county ordinance.
"Tourism improvement district management association" or
"TIDMA." The body that manages a tourism improvement district.
"Tourism improvement district plan." The strategic plan for
tourism activities within a tourism improvement district.
Section 3. Establishment of tourism improvement districts.
20250SB0783PN0889 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

(a) Establishment.--A benefited business may petition and
present a preliminary plan to the county to establish a TID in
the county.
(b) Specific procedures.--
(1) The county shall hold a public hearing for the
purpose of receiving public comment on the preliminary plan
for a proposed TID. At least 30 days prior to the public
hearing the following shall be provided by the county to the
extent reasonably practical to each benefited business
located in the proposed TID via the United States Postal
Service to the last known address on file with the office in
the county that maintains tax assessment records:
(i) A copy of