Committee advances bill allowing nonprofits to take credit-card payments for raffles after split debate

The Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs committee voted to concur in House Bill 141, which would allow nonprofits, colleges, universities and schools to accept credit-card payments for raffle tickets. The bill, brought back from the table, passed on a roll-call vote 8–4 and will move to the Senate floor.

Supporters said the measure is narrowly tailored to nonprofit fundraising and eases transactions at events. One committee member described the bill as limited to raffle tickets and said that requiring separate payment methods for different fundraisers can be “weird” and burdensome for small nonprofit events.

Opponents argued the policy risks enabling gambling behaviors and increasing consumer debt because credit-card payments can separate purchasers from the immediate cost. One senator said, “I just don’t think this is a safe pathway for gambling,” and warned that credit could make it easier to overspend on raffles.

During the debate senators who supported the bill acknowledged the concern but said the bill’s restricted scope—only nonprofits and raffle tickets—is a meaningful limit. Another member said the bill would help schools and nonprofit organizers who rely on raffles to raise funds and that many people now carry cards rather than cash.

The committee resolved the disagreement by putting the bill to a roll-call vote. The final tally was 8 in favor and 4 opposed. The committee recorded several proxy votes. House Bill 141 will be carried to the floor by a senator volunteer and is scheduled for further consideration there.