Louisiana’s public college athletic programs could soon see a major funding boost under a bill moving through the Legislature, Louisiana Illuminator reports.
House Bill 639, sponsored by Rep. Neil Riser, R-Columbia, would raise the state’s sports gambling tax rate from 15% to 21.5%, generating roughly $77 million annually. Of that, $20 million would be earmarked for the newly created SPORT Fund, which would distribute nearly $1.7 million annually to each of the state’s 11 public NCAA Division I schools.
While that amount is modest for LSU, with its $200 million athletic budget, it could significantly aid smaller programs like Southern and the University of Louisiana Monroe, whose sports budgets are less than $20 million.
The proposal enjoys bipartisan support, with lawmakers citing the need to address gambling’s societal costs. However, critics argue that investing in college athletics should not come at the expense of more pressing needs like addiction recovery.
The bill maintains current revenue splits for early childhood education, local governments, and addiction programs and adds support for inclusive education. It now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
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