Committee hears bill to lower charitable gaming taxes, sponsor says savings will stay local

The North Dakota House Finance and Tax Committee opened and closed a public hearing on House Bill 1465, a proposal to change the charitable gaming tax structure to a tiered system and reduce the state tax rate for many smaller operators, Representative Dorey Hough told the committee.

Proponents say the bill will keep more funds under local control. Hough, the bill sponsor, told members the measure would allow “local charitable organizations the ability to give more back to their communities,” and described how charities use gaming proceeds for volunteer fire equipment, youth sports, scholarships and day‑care construction.

Under current statute cited in testimony, the gaming tax is assessed on adjusted gross proceeds as defined in the North Dakota Century Code (cited in testimony as…