The summer months have now passed and school is back in session for most US students. With cooler weather in the next few months, there is also a decrease in bill activity. The states of North Carolina and Massachusetts are still in session with 12 states in recess.1 The state legislatures in California and New Hampshire processed a total of 15 gambling-related bills that went through the various stages of the lawmaking process during August 2024. This report will focus primarily on bill activity in California, which passed 12 bills in the second body and sent three bills for signature.2
Win, Lose, or Draw: Legislation that Became Law
Lottery and Charitable Gaming:
New Hampshire – HB 1197 relates to criminal background checks in the state of New Hampshire. It amends various statutes to authorize additional personnel to take fingerprints for non-criminal related background checks. The bill also establishes a multi-agency task force to review the need for Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal History Record Information checks across employment and volunteer positions in the state. The task force is required to provide reports on their findings and recommendations. The purpose of this bill is to ensure that national Criminal History Record Information checks for employment and volunteer positions are appropriate and completed as expeditiously as possible. The bill also addresses specific departments and positions that require these record checks, such as the New Hampshire Lottery Commission and Charitable Gaming Commission.and various other state departments. Note: HB 1197 (8/27/2024) Became Law.
Almost to the Goal: Sent for Signature
Lottery:
California – SB 1523 is a bill to amend Section 328 of the Cal. Penal Code, specifically related to gambling. The bill clarifies that it is not unlawful to place or operate communications to and from equipment located within the State of California associated with the hosting of lottery games authorized by another state or jurisdiction, provided that persons wagering on those games are required by the laws or regulations of the other state or jurisdiction to be physically located within the geographic bounds of that other state or jurisdiction at the time the wager is initiated or placed. The bill also emphasizes that this section does not authorize any advertisement within California relating to lotteries or the sale or resale of lottery tickets, chances, or shares to individuals, or acts otherwise in violation of any laws of the state. Note: SB 1523 (9/4/2024) Sent for Signature.
Tribal Gaming:
California – AB 3235 is a bill that seeks to amend Sections 11102.1 and 11102.2 of the Cal. Penal Code. The bill aims to modify the requirements and criteria for certification and confirmation of individuals involved in rolling fingerprint impressions for non-law-enforcement purposes and custodians of records. Specifically mentioned in this bill is an exemption for “employees of a tribal gaming agency or a tribal gaming operation, provided that the fingerprints are rolled and submitted to the Department of Justice for purposes of compliance with a tribal-state compact.” This exemption is allowed if the employee has received training pertaining to applicant fingerprint rolling and has undergone a criminal offender record information background investigation. Note: AB 3235 (8/26/2024) Sent for Signature.
Employee Licensing:
California – SB 931 proposes an amendment to Section 19913 of the Cal. Bus. and Prof. Code. The amendment is related to gambling and specifically addresses the process of suspending a person’s work permit in the gambling industry. Existing law requires certain employees of a gambling enterprise to apply for and obtain a work permit from the commission or from a city, county, or both entities. It also currently allows the commission to issue an order suspending a person’s work permit with a hearing required within 30 calendar days of the date of service of the suspension. The amendment proposed by this bill changes the timeframe for the hearing 27 calendar days of the date of service of the suspension. Note: SB 931 (9/4/2024) Sent for Signature.
Changes in the Game: Passed by the Second Body
Gambling Control Commission:
California – AB 224 amends the Cal. Bus. and Prof. Code to increase the membership of the Gaming Policy Advisory Committee from 10 to 12 members. The additional members must include representatives from academia and the Bureau of Gambling Control. Furthermore, the bill requires the executive director of the Gambling Control Commission to convene the committee at least twice every calendar year, rather than convening it “from time to time” as stated in the existing law. The purpose of the committee remains to discuss gambling regulatory policy and other relevant gambling-related issues, providing advisory recommendations to the Gambling Control Commission. Note: AB 224 (8/20/2024) Passed by the Senate.
Horse Racing:
California
AB 3261 is an amendment to the Cal. Bus. and Prof. Code, specifically related to horse racing. The amendment focuses on the distribution of audiovisual signals and acceptance of wagers on out-of-state thoroughbred races conducted in the United States during race meetings. The amendment increases the maximum number of thoroughbred races that can be imported by associations or fairs on a statewide basis from 50 to 75 races per day when live thoroughbred or fair racing is being conducted in the state. However, there are exceptions to this limitation, such as races imported for wagering purposes, races part of specific race cards, and races imported into specific zones when no live racing is being conducted in those zones. The amendment also sets conditions for conducting wagering and restricts the acceptance of wagers on out-of-state races after specific times without the consent of the harness or quarter horse racing association conducting live racing in certain counties. The amendment incorporates additional changes proposed by AB 1768 and AB 1946, to be operative only if all three bills are enacted and this bill is enacted last. Note: AB 3261 (8/31/2024) Passed by the Senate.
AB 3179 is a proposed amendment to Section 19605.25 of the Cal. Bus. and Prof. Code, specifically relating to horse racing. The amendment introduces changes to the requirements and conditions for the approval of minisatellite wagering sites. Key provisions in this bill require that the agreement between the organization operating the audiovisual signal system and the mini satellite wagering facility must specify which live in-state races will be provided by the association or fair to the site. In addition, the California Horse Racing Board may approve an additional 15 minisatellite wagering sites in each zone, subject to certain conditions. Other provisions include proximity restrictions, approval requirements, access and age restrictions, approval process for licensing, consent requirements, treatment of wagers, eligibility for commission distributions, and cost allocation. Note: AB 3179 (8/22/2024) Passed by the Senate.
Tribal Gaming:
California
AB 2032 is a bill that adds Section 12012.113 to the Cal. Gov. Code and ratifies a tribal-state gaming compact between the State of California and the Big Sandy Rancheria of Western Mono Indians of California. The compact was executed on January 16, 2024. The bill also declares that certain actions related to the compact are not considered projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in deference to tribal sovereignty. The bill is an urgency statute and takes effect immediately. Note: AB 2032 (8/31/2024) Passed by the Senate.
AB 2656 is a bill that adds Section 12012.114 to the Cal. Gov. Code of California. The bill ratifies a tribal-state gaming compact between the State of California and the Table Mountain Rancheria, executed on November 1, 2023. It also declares that certain actions related to the compact are not considered projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in deference to tribal sovereignty. The bill is deemed an urgency statute and takes effect immediately to enhance the economic development, stability, and self-sufficiency of the Table Mountain Rancheria and protect the interests of the tribe, its members, surrounding communities, and the public of California. Note: AB 2656 (8/28/2024) Passed by the Senate.
AB-3276 is a bill that adds Section 12012.115 to the Cal. Gov. Code to ratify a tribal-state gaming compact between the State of California and the Tule River Indian Tribe of California, executed on June 25, 2024. The compact is in accordance with the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. The bill also declares that certain actions related to the compact are not considered projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in deference to tribal sovereignty. AB-3276 is an urgency statute that took effect immediately to enhance the economic development, stability, and self-sufficiency of the Tule River Indian Tribe of California and protect the interests of the tribe and its members, surrounding communities, and the California public. Note: AB 3276 (8/21/2024) Passed by the Senate.
1Regology database statistics filtered by jurisdiction [US federal/50 states], status [applicable bills only], and time period [August 1 – 31, 2024].
2Bills included in this category are reported “active”, even though the state legislature may have adjourned during this time period. Regology uses the official status reported by each individual state legislature according to their policies and procedures.
