Bill advances to give Visit Baton Rouge $100K annually for sports promotion
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A Louisiana bill that would redirect state funding to promote sporting events in Baton Rouge has cleared its first legislative hurdle.
House Bill 226, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Freiberg (R-Baton Rouge), would reallocate an existing $100,000 appropriation from the now-defunct Baton Rouge Sports Foundation to Visit Baton Rouge. The funds would come from the East Baton Rouge Parish Enhancement Fund, a special state treasury fund established to support local economic and tourism-related efforts.
The bill, which passed out of the House Appropriations Committee, updates state law to reflect changes in local organizations. Freiberg told lawmakers that the sports foundation is no longer operational, and Visit Baton Rouge has since absorbed its responsibilities.
Visit Baton Rouge President and CEO Jill Kidder testified that the funds would not be used for salaries but would instead help the tourism bureau bid on and secure major sports events that generate hotel stays and visitor spending. She noted that Visit Baton Rouge does not receive state general funds and relies primarily on a local occupancy tax.
In its 2025 business plan, Visit Baton Rouge outlined sports development as a key priority. Among its stated goals are launching a sports foundation, securing a large professional sports event in partnership with LSU, and advocating for new sports facilities. The agency also hopes to increase overnight visitors and tourism revenue by leveraging sporting events to bring more travelers to the city.
If approved by lawmakers, the $100,000 annual appropriation would be codified into law and take effect immediately upon the governor's signature.
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Bill advances to give Visit Baton Rouge $100K annually for sports promotion
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