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Judiciary committee reconsiders, amends Senate Bill 23‑84 on charitable gaming machines
Summary
The Judiciary Committee voted to reconsider and amend Senate Bill 23‑84, removing distributor‑sale language and clarifying charities may communicate directly with manufacturers about machine maintenance; the bill was given a due‑pass as amended and slated for appropriations review.
The Judiciary Committee reopened consideration of Senate Bill 23‑84 and voted to reconsider and amend the measure, altering how charities may interact with owners of electronic gaming machines for repairs and maintenance.
Senator Cory moved to reconsider the committee's prior action after correcting an earlier misstatement on the record; Chair Larson called the roll and the motion carried. Senator Cory described the amendment being offered as version 25.13 23.1002 and said it would reinstate certain original code language while striking distributor‑sale language. “He did not ask me to do this, and I just wanted to say that he's an outstanding lobbyist and an outstanding man,” Senator Cory said, correcting an earlier attribution and apologizing for the mistake.
Under the amendment, the bill removes language that would have explicitly allowed manufacturers or distributors to sell machines directly to charities; instead, charities would be allowed to communicate directly with the manufacturer who owns a machine about maintenance or repairs but may still choose to work through a distributor. Senator Cory summarized the change: the machines would remain owned by the manufacturer and leased on the property, but charities could contact the manufacturer directly for repairs without being required to use a distributor.
Several committee members sought clarification on the operational effect. Senator Brownberger and Senator Paulson asked whether the amendment still allowed purchases through distributors; Cory answered it did not prohibit distributor sales, only removed the mandated distributor role for communications and maintenance. Senator Paulson praised the amendment as balancing concerns from charities and gaming organizations.
After debate, Senator Cory moved a due‑pass recommendation as amended and to re‑refer the bill to appropriations; the motion was seconded and carried. Chair Larson announced the committee vote as recorded by the clerk: 5 yes, 0 no, 1 absent. Senator Cory was asked to carry the bill forward.
The committee did not adopt new substantive regulatory limits or fiscal provisions in the session recorded; the change focused on communications and maintenance rights between charities, distributors and manufacturers.
