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Proposal to authorize a form of gambling draws strong floor opposition
Summary
A bill that would legalize a form of gambling (standing committee report 791) prompted multiple members to announce no votes or opposition, citing social harms and regressivity of gambling revenue.
Representative Peruso announced a “no” vote and asked that written comments be entered in the journal; Representative Shimizu rose in strong opposition and said she believed gambling would “significantly hurt and damage the special and intricate fabric of our aloha and our people.” Representative Peruso also urged caution on relying on gambling revenue and cited studies that show low‑ and middle‑income households bear a disproportionate share of gambling expenditures where gambling is legalized.
Other members registered no votes or reservations; Representative Baladi said she was persuaded by earlier opponents and registered a no vote as well. Several members asked to have the remarks of colleagues entered in the journal as their own comments.
The bill was part of the package of standing committee reports the House moved to advance later in the day; the transcript contains multiple recorded no votes and reservations for the relevant report numbers but does not include a roll‑call tally for adoption separate from the omnibus action.
