FECAMTT declared a state public utility by Law 19,281/2025

On April 11, 2025, the Government of Santa Catarina signed Law nº 19,281, which grants state public utility status (utilidade pública estadual) to FECAMTT, the Santa Catarina Traditional Muaythai Federation (Federação Catarinense de Muay Thai Tradicional), based in Balneário Camboriú. The federation is chaired by Mestre Paulo Ribeiro. The text was published in the State Official Gazette (Diário Oficial do Estado) on April 14, 2025.

What the law says

The full text is on the law portal of the Santa Catarina Legislative Assembly (Alesc). Article 1 is direct: “The Federação Catarinense de Muay Thai Tradicional (FECAMTT), based in the Municipality of Balneário Camboriú, is hereby declared of state public utility”. The law also adds the organization to the Single Annex (Anexo Único) of Law nº 18,278 of 2021, which lists the organizations recognized in the state.

Fact sheet of the law, according to the Alesc page:

• Number: Law nº 19,281 of April 11, 2025;
• Origin: Bill (Projeto de Lei) 0409/2024, introduced by state representative Carlos Humberto;
• Publication: State Official Gazette nº 22,492-A, of April 14, 2025;
• Signed by: Governor Jorginho Mello.

What state public utility status is

The public utility title is the State’s recognition that the organization provides a service of collective interest. In practice, it is often a requirement in public calls, agreements and incentive programs, and it comes with accountability obligations. The rules, requirements and step-by-step process for other sports organizations are explained in the article on state public utility status.

Who FECAMTT is

FECAMTT organizes traditional Muaythai in Santa Catarina: state stages, qualifiers, refereeing courses and the Muaythai nas Escolas (“Muaythai in Schools”) project. The photo illustrating this article is from the 2nd State Stage of 2018, in Chapecó, with the Mestre holding the federation’s banner next to athletes with trophies and a championship belt (Instagram).

Among the federation’s milestones recorded on this site are Muaythai’s entry into the Santa Catarina Open Games in 2019, after a request that began in 2013, and the medals at the 2025 WBC Muaythai World Championship, in Verona, Italy, two months after the law was signed.

Why the recognition matters

For a nonprofit sports federation, the title opens doors: it makes partnerships with city governments and the State easier, gives confidence to companies that want to support projects and strengthens credibility with athletes and families. It is also a recognition of years of work by instructors and officials who organized Muaythai in the state without public facilities of their own.

What has not yet been confirmed

The detailed progress of the bill in the Assembly (dates of committee and floor votes) was not checked by this site, which relied only on the law’s official page. There is also no public record in the Mestre’s posts of a ceremony or event linked to the signing.

Support Santa Catarina Muaythai

Santa Catarina companies can support approved sports projects with part of their ICMS (state tax on goods and services), and anyone can get to know the federation’s work up close. See how on the Support page and talk to Mestre Paulo Ribeiro on Instagram @mestrepauloribeiro.