The bill amends Section 44-18-30B of the General Laws in Chapter 44-18, which pertains to sales and use taxes, by expanding the definition of "book or other writing" to include a one-of-a-kind limited production of up to 1,500 copies. It establishes a sales tax exemption for works sold by writers, composers, and artists who reside and conduct business in Rhode Island, while explicitly denying the exemption for third-party electronic sales and sales from bookstores, gift shops, and other retail outlets.

The legislation emphasizes the importance of the arts and culture in generating economic activity and tourism and aims to expand the existing arts district program statewide. It clarifies that the exemption applies only to original, one-of-a-kind creations and not to commercial productions.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the tax administrator, in cooperation with the Rhode Island Council on the Arts, gather data to assess the overall impact of the statewide arts district program. This includes issuing an annual report on the impact of the tax exemption on employment, tourism, sales, and spending within the arts sector and adjacent businesses.

The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
7006: 44-18-30B