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GAMING BILLS PROGRESS Alert!
7-Apr-09
Gambling Update
Casino Hearings
On Wednesday, April 8, the House Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures will hear all the major gambling bills filed in the House this session. There are 16 gambling related bills currently on the notice of hearing which can be found here. (http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/schedules/html/C3502009040808001.HTM)
It is important that the committee is being attended by many industry leaders such as Sheldon Adelson, Chairman of the Las Vegas Sands Corp., the world's fastest-growing casino company. BUT THE KEY IS THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO HERE FROM CITIZENS FOR THE EXPANSION OF LEGALIZED GAMING. JOIN TODAY AND SUPPORT the campaign. WRITE OR CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR TODAY. The committee has new members that need Texans citizens support. It is important that they know people out in the state are supportive on passing legislation for casino style gambling. If your representative sits on this committee it is time to let them know you support gambling in Texas. A list of the committee members and their contact information can be found here. (http://www.house.state.tx.us/committees/list81/350.htm)
First Gambling Bills Voted Out of Committee
On the same afternoon that the House Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee announced the agenda for Wednesday’s hearing, committee members quietly passed out two gambling expansion bills. Both bills now sit in the Calendars committee and await a chance to be considered on the House floor. The first bill is HB 222, http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/html/HB00222I.htm by Rep. Menendez (D-San Antonio). This bill would legalize poker to be played at electronic tables in certain bars, restaurants, horse and dog race tracks and on Indian reservations. Only simple majorities in both the House and Senate are needed to pass this bill.
The second bill is HB 1474 http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/html/HB01474I.htm by Rep. Geren (R- Ft. Worth). This bill is meant to be a “clean up” bill to standardize and improve the regulation of Bingo in Texas.
The list of members on the Calendars Committee can be found here. http://www.house.state.tx.us/committees/list81/050.htm. Please let these representative as members of this committee know that you want your right to choose where to play casino style games in you state.
Indian Gambling Bills Get Hearing also
On Monday, March 30, two Native-American casino bills by Rep. Chavez (D-El Paso) were heard in committee. The first bill, HB 1308 http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/html/HB01308I.htm was heard in the subcommittee on Criminal Procedure of the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. HB 1308 does not substatially change the legal standing of gambling by the Texas tribes bound by the Restoration Act. The bill is an attempt to expand gambling by a simple majority vote in the legislature. A link to the committee and their contact info is http://www.house.state.tx.us/committees/list81/220.htm . This Joint Resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the Tigua tribe of El Paso to operate a full blown, Las Vegas style casino.
TEXANS FOR LEGALIZED GAMING OPPOSES THIS BILL SINCE IT DOES NOT ADDRESS CASINO STYLE GAMING AS A REGULATED INDUSTRY IN TEXAS
On March 30, the House Committee on Border and Intergovernmental Affairs heard testimony on HJR 108 a link is: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/html/HJ00108I.htm
The time period for filing bills is closed. The gambling expansion bills now pending in committees at the Texas Legislature are:
SJR31, a proposed constitutional amendment for voters to decide whether to allow resort casinos, casinos on American Indian lands and slot machines at race tracks. (House version is HJR70)
SB1084, legislation establishing resort casinos, casinos on American Indian lands and slot machines at existing race tracks. (House version is HB1724)
HJR107, a proposed constitutional amendment for voters to decide whether to allow casinos in areas like Galveston, in cities of 675,000 or more people, on American Indian lands and at existing race tracks. If voters approve, the governor would call the Legislature back by June 2010 to finalize the regulating legislation.
HB1308, legislation giving American Indian tribes in El Paso and other Indian claimed land an opportunity to operate casinos on their reservations without the State of Texas regulating them.
HB4062, a bill allowing video slot machines at race tracks and casino gambling at Indian reservations.
HB222, a bill authorizing and regulating poker and declaring it a game of skill.
HB2325, a bill allowing communities to hold local elections to allow the use of 8-liners (slot machines) and the state will establish regulation and licensing.