Bill > H2936

This bill aims to promote economic development in the Commonwealth by establishing tourism destination marketing districts (TDMDs). The key provisions of the bill include: 1. Defining the terms and structure of TDMDs, which are geographic areas with clearly defined boundaries that can include multiple tourism regions and are managed by a designated regional tourism council. 2. Outlining the process for lodging business owners to petition for the formation of a TDMD, including the required elements of the petition and the public hearing process. 3. Authorizing the lead jurisdiction (the city or town where the TDMD petition is filed) to form a TDMD, which can include other cities or towns, and describing the TDMD renewal and dissolution procedures. 4. Specifying that TDMDs shall be governed by a management entity and a TDMD committee, and that all lodging businesses within the TDMD boundaries will be subject to a special assessment (up to 3% of rent taxable under the state's hotel/motel tax) to fund supplemental tourism and marketing services. 5. Establishing the process for collecting and distributing the TDMD special assessments, as well as the related financial reporting and auditing requirements. 6. Outlining the procedures for amending a TDMD plan, which can include changes to the supplemental services, assessment structure, or boundaries, subject to approval by the lead jurisdiction. 7. Providing the lead jurisdiction with the authority to disestablish a TDMD under certain circumstances, such as misappropriation of funds or a petition by a majority of the TDMD electors.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H2936