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Committee advances casino-relocation bill amid drafting confusion over CCDF linkage; bill passes 10–8
Summary
HB 1038, which would establish a competitive process to relocate a casino license and require mitigation and local investment, passed the committee 10–8. Debate included amendments to dedicate portions of proceeds to regional RDAs and proposed but withdrawn language to direct casino-related funds to CCDF vouchers after LSA raised drafting concerns.
Representative Snow presented HB 1038, a bill establishing a structured process to relocate the Rising Sun casino license to selected Indiana counties (Steuben, DeKalb, Allen and Wayne), limit applicants to current in-state license holders, require local-government approval, mandate a minimum investment and include anti-flipping protections. Snow said the bill would include mitigation payments (for example, $30,000,000 to Rising Sun and Ohio County) and a $50,000,000 state fee; amendment #11 would send 10% of tax revenue to the regional RDA in the host region.
Representative Porter offered amendment language intended to direct revenue from a new license to CCDF childcare vouchers for the hosting county (discussed as amendment 12 and later referenced as 14 in committee colloquy). Debate revealed drafting confusion: committee members observed the bill’s structure relocates an existing license and may not create 'a new casino in Ohio County' as the amendment language presumed. LSA staff read the bill language aloud and cautioned the amendment could be inconsistent with the bill’s mechanics and leave the source of funds unspecified. Porter acknowledged the drafting gaps and withdrew the amendment to rework it.
Snow described the bill’s one-time and ongoing payments to affected communities and said sponsors were working on formulas to apportion mitigation and local disbursements. After additional amendments were taken by consent and some were withdrawn, the committee voted 10–8 to pass HB 1038 out of committee.
Next steps: Sponsors and LSA will need to resolve drafting ambiguities before floor consideration if proponents intend to dedicate license-related proceeds to CCDF vouchers or other county-specific programs.
