Committee tacks legislative study onto tap‑room bill to examine charities' gaming and bar ownership

A committee added a study provision to a bill concerning tap rooms and charitable gaming and approved the bill as amended.

During consideration of Senate Bill 23‑34 (concerning tap rooms), Representative Clamine offered an amendment that removed a proposed moratorium and instead asked Legislative Management to study charitable gaming organizations that own bars, the relationship between manufacturers/distributors and licensed charitable organizations, and incentives manufacturers may provide to charities. The amendment was described as exploratory: lawmakers cited concerns about money flowing out of state to manufacturers, incentives or payments from manufacturers to charities for machine placements, and a trend of charities purchasing multiple bars.

Representative Clamine moved the amendment, Representative Bosley seconded, and committee discussion included a suggestion that Legislative Management might deprioritize the study but supporters said interim review would provide useful information. Representative Hager voiced a preference for a full public hearing rather than an interim study but the amendment passed on a 9–1–3 vote. The committee then voted to recommend a do‑pass as amended; the full bill passed the committee 10–0–3 as amended. Representative Clamine agreed to carry the bill.

Why it matters: The amendment creates a formal review mechanism into the financial relationships and operations of charitable gaming organizations and their interaction with manufacturers and distributors; lawmakers said the study would clarify whether further statutory action is needed.

Ending: The committee approved the study amendment and advanced the bill; members asked staff to coordinate with Legislative Management and to collect testimony for the interim review.