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Bill

S 10633

Increases the distribution of revenue from extending the authorization for the hotel and motel taxes in Suffolk county

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Monica Martinez and 4 co-sponsors

Creates a dedicated Suffolk County Infrastructure Fund funded by hotel/motel revenues to finance tourism-related capital projects, museums, and promotion.

SUBSTITUTED BY A11552
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Bill Summary · S 10633

Overview

  • Bill: S 10633
  • Session: 2025-2026
  • Jurisdiction: New York (Suffolk County)
  • Title: Increases the distribution of revenue from extending the authorization for the hotel and motel taxes in Suffolk County
  • Introduced: June 1, 2026
  • Primary aim: Change how hotel/motel tax revenues in Suffolk County are distributed and create a dedicated Suffolk County Infrastructure Fund to support tourism-related projects, cultural programs, museums, historic sites, and regional promotion.

Purpose and intent

  • To increase and restructure the distribution of revenues derived from the hotel and motel tax in Suffolk County.
  • To guarantee funding for tourism promotion, cultural and historic programs, museums, regional marketing, and infrastructure projects that enhance tourism.
  • To create a dedicated fund (Suffolk County Infrastructure Fund) to manage and prioritize long-term tourism-related investments, with rules for funding growth and capital projects.

Key provisions and changes

  • Revenue distribution formula (subdivision 6, section 1202-o, as amended):
    • (a) 4,500,000 dollars per fiscal year to a not-for-profit tourism promotion agency focused on Long Island/Suffolk tourism (under contract via RFP).
    • (a-1) 150,000 dollars per fiscal year to a not-for-profit that represents the hospitality sector for countywide promotion.
    • (b) 2,850,000 dollars per fiscal year to Suffolk County for cultural programs and activities promoting tourism, with regional allocations:
    • 1,600,000 for Babylon, Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip, Smithtown
    • 1,000,000 for Riverhead, Southold, Shelter Island, Southampton, East Hampton
    • 250,000 for county economic development and planning cultural grants
    • (c) 1,250,000 dollars per fiscal year for the support of museums accredited by the American Alliance of Museums located in the county’s first dedicated park and on the National Register of Historic Places
    • (d) 1,000,000 dollars per fiscal year for other museums, historical societies, historic residences, and historic birthplaces
    • (d-1) 250,000 dollars per fiscal year for program support of a not-for-profit museum organization managing a National Register site in Suffolk that is a National Treasure and part of a National Recreational Trail and a NYS historic site
    • (e) 2,500,000 dollars per fiscal year for care, maintenance, and interpretation of historic structures/sites managed by the county parks and recreation for tourist sites
    • (f) 250,000 dollars per fiscal year to promote Suffolk County as a film-friendly location
    • (f-1) 3,250,000 dollars per fiscal year deposited into the Suffolk County General Fund for general park purposes
    • (g) 500,000 dollars per fiscal year for regional marketing and promotion, including:
    • 250,000 to a Long Island regional commercial airport designated as an official metro airport outside NYC airspace
    • 250,000 to an East End tourism agency contracted by Suffolk to develop tourism/business on the East End
    • (g-1) 250,000 dollars per fiscal year for program support of a nonprofit organization managing the first lighthouse in NY that is on the National Register/National Historic Places/NYS historic site
    • (h) All remaining revenue to a dedicated Suffolk County Infrastructure Fund, separate from other county funds
  • Suffolk County Infrastructure Fund:
    • Funds may be used in a given fiscal year for planning, design, and construction of tourism-enhancing projects, including:
    • Convention center and related infrastructure (utilities, wastewater, parking, traffic, pedestrian access, multi-modal facilities, etc.)
    • Repayment of indebtedness related to these projects
    • Capital improvements of historic structures, parks, marinas, golf courses, and campgrounds on county property (2-year window: Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2029)
    • Support for not-for-profit museums and performance venues, Smith Point/Ponquogue bridge projects, Shinnecock canal infrastructure
    • Wastewater treatment and coastal resiliency projects to protect water quality and support beach occupancy
    • The fund must maintain a minimum balance of $5,000,000 during the period applicable to capital improvements
    • Construction funding must comply with Article 8 of the Labor Law
    • In years where revenue is insufficient, Infrastructure Fund may cover shortfalls; if Fund is also insufficient, distributions (a)-(g-1) are reduced proportionally
  • Annual escalators:
    • Funding amounts in paragraphs (a)-(g-1) increase by 1% over the prior fiscal year, with exceptions:
    • Increases for certain museums and National Treasure/National Recreational Trail/NYS historic site programs are set by a Suffolk County Legislature resolution to be at least 1% but not more than 5% per year
  • Revenue shortfall handling:
    • If hotel/motel tax revenues are insufficient to fund the identified amounts, the Suffolk County Infrastructure Fund can be used to cover gaps; if still insufficient, distributions are reduced proportionally
  • Reporting requirements:
    • Annual reporting by the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning on progress promoting Suffolk as a film-friendly location and on revenue statistics from paragraph (f)
    • Schedules of availability for historic and cultural activities funded by these revenues must be provided to the contracted tourism promotion agency

Who/what would be affected

  • Suffolk County government (Executive and Legislature) would manage and allocate funds.
  • Not-for-profit tourism promotion agency (contracted by the county).
  • Not-for-profit organizations representing hospitality, cultural institutions (museums, historical societies, National Register/National Treasure sites), and film promotion entities.
  • County departments: Economic Development and Planning; Parks and Recreation.
  • Regional entities: Long Island regional airport and an East End tourism agency.
  • Projects affected: cultural programs, museum support, historic site preservation, park infrastructure, film-friendly initiatives, regional marketing, airport marketing, and major tourism-related capital projects.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Effective date: Immediate upon enactment.
  • Annual process: Allocation, monitoring, and reporting per the outlined formula; escalation percentages apply annually per the specified schedule; annual reporting on film-friendly location progress and revenue statistics.
  • Funding architecture is designed to be self-contained within the Suffolk County hotel/motel tax revenues, with a safety valve to use the Infrastructure Fund if revenues fall short, subject to proportional reductions if needed.

Potential impacts

  • Enhanced funding for tourism promotion and cultural/historic programs in Suffolk County.
  • Increased financial support for museums, historic sites, and regional marketing efforts, including film industry promotion.
  • Creation and growth of a dedicated infrastructure fund aimed at tourism-related capital projects and coastal resilience.
  • Potential for higher coordination between county agencies and contracted tourism/promotion organizations.
  • Built-in stability through annual 1% funding increases (where permitted) and contingency funding via the Infrastructure Fund.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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