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HB 1719

Sales tax; exempt admissions charged at athletic games or contests between universities or colleges.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Shane Aguirre and 6 co-sponsors

Exempts college athletic game admissions from Mississippi sales tax, reducing ticket costs but sacrificing state revenue.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 1719

Legislative bill overview

HB 1719 would exempt admissions charges for athletic games and contests between universities or colleges from Mississippi's sales tax. This means tickets to college sports events would no longer be subject to state sales tax, reducing the final price consumers pay for admission.

Why is this important

College sports generate significant revenue for Mississippi universities and athletic departments. Removing the sales tax on tickets could make events more affordable for attendees while potentially increasing ticket sales volume. However, it also represents foregone state tax revenue that would need to be absorbed elsewhere in the budget or offset by other funding sources.

Potential points of contention

  • Revenue impact: The state would lose sales tax revenue from ticket purchases, with unclear estimates of the financial impact on state coffers
  • Equity concerns: This exemption benefits only college sports while other entertainment venues (professional sports, concerts, theater) remain taxable, raising questions about fairness
  • Scope definition: The bill's language "between universities or colleges" could create ambiguity about which events qualify (conference tournaments, bowl games, exhibition matches, etc.)

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

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