A House bill seeking to crack down on illegal gambling operations has cleared its final committee and is now ready for a floor vote, but the measure (HB 189) still faces heavy opposition despite amendments.

The House Judiciary Committee cleared the bill, but only after hearing significant opposition from veterans’ groups worried about vague language, unintended consequences and a hit to veterans’ charities.

The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee cleared a similar bill and faced the same opposition.

The bill, broadly, increases penalties for illegal gambling activities from a second-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony. It also would create a staggered penalty, increasing to a second-degree felony on second offense, and first-degree felony on third and subsequent offenses.