Committee removes bonding language from SB 83 amendment, preserves technical changes and votes OTPA 17‑0

The House Ways and Means Committee reopened prior action on Senate Bill 83 to unwind an earlier amendment and allow public comment on a revised replacement amendment. Lottery officials explained they removed a proposed bonding increase from the amendment after operators raised concerns and retained three technical clarifications; the committee adopted the replacement amendment 3010H and voted "ought to pass as amended," 17-0.

Charlie McIntyre of the Lottery and Cooley Arroyo, the lottery's chief compliance officer, testified at the public hearing. McIntyre said the amendment removed a provision increasing bonding limits, which had prompted concerns from several operators that they could not obtain bonding above $1,000,000. He told the committee the amendment retains three other technical clarifications important to the agency and that the bonding language could be revisited during the regular session if needed.

Representative Schamberg asked whether the change to free-play language would affect general fund revenue. Lottery staff said the replacement amendment clarifies that a 15% cap applies and that the specific changes were intended to be technical cleanup, not a change that would affect the general fund. The committee recorded that the sponsor and Lottery representatives recommended adoption of the replacement amendment.

In executive session the committee adopted amendment 3010H on a recorded vote of 17-0 and then voted "ought to pass as amended" on SB 83, also 17-0. The chair directed both bills to be placed on consent for the floor report. No dissenting recorded votes were recorded at final passage in committee.