HB 737-LOCAL - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
20Mar2025... 0850h
2025 SESSION
25-0742
02/11
HOUSE BILL 737-LOCAL
AN ACT creating local options for games of chance.
SPONSORS: Rep. B. Boyd, Hills. 12; Rep. Barton, Graf. 1; Rep. D. Paige, Carr. 1; Rep. Schamberg, Merr. 6; Rep. Spilsbury, Sull. 3; Rep. Stringham, Graf. 3; Rep. Turcotte, Straf. 4; Sen. Rochefort, Dist 1
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ANALYSIS
This bill gives municipalities a local option to vote to prohibit the operation of games of chance within their boundaries.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20Mar2025... 0850h 25-0742
02/11
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT creating local options for games of chance.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Local Option; Games of Chance. Amend RSA 287-D by inserting after section 287-D:31 the following new section:
287-D:32 Local Option; Games of Chance.
I. The lottery commission shall not grant a game operator employer license to operate games of chance in a municipality if that municipality has voted to prohibit games of chance to be held within its boundaries, or if there is a pending question on the municipality’s warrant or official ballot for the next regular municipal election. Such vote shall be held in the following manner:
(a) In a town, the question shall be placed on the warrant of an annual town meeting upon receipt of a petition signed by at least 25 registered voters. If a city, the question shall be placed on the official ballot for the next regular municipal election upon submission to the city clerk of a petition signed by at least 5 percent of registered voters.
(b) The selectmen, aldermen, or city council shall hold a public hearing on the question at least 15 days, but not more than 30 days before the question is to be voted on. Notice of the hearing shall be posted in at least 2 public places in the municipality, on the website of the municipality, and by publication in a newspaper of general circulation at least 14 days before the hearing.
(c) In municipalities where games of chance are not currently in operation, the wording of the question shall be substantially as follows: "Shall we prohibit the operation of games of chance within the town or city?"
(d) In municipalities where games of chance are currently operating, the wording of the question shall be substantially as follows: “Shall we prohibit additional brick and mortar games of chance operations within the town or city?"
II. If a majority of those voting on the question vote "Yes," new games of chance may not be operated within the town or city.
III. If the question is not approved, the question may later be voted upon according to the provisions of paragraph I as early as the next annual town meeting or regular municipal election.
IV. A city or town may rescind its disapproval for operation of games of chance under RSA 287-D by following procedures in paragraph I in this section.
V. An unincorporated place may disallow the operation of games of chance by majority vote of the county delegation, after a public hearing is held, and may be rescinded in a similar fashion.
VI. The lottery commission shall maintain a list of municipalities where games of chance have been prohibited pursuant to this section.
VII. If the town, city, or unincorporated place has voted within this section to prohibit games of chance, that municipality may pass an ordinance allowing only a specified number of charitable gaming events per year, or certain number of dates per year to be determined by the town, hosted by local charitable organizations pursuant to RSA 287-D:4, and specifying how the municipality shall determine how charitable organizations register for a gaming event.
VIII. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including paragraphs I and II, any vote by a municipality to prohibit games of chance within its boundaries shall not apply to any games of chance operator licensed by the lottery commission, or any applicant who has applied for a games of chance operator license prior to the date of the petition in subparagraph I(a) or the notice date in subparagraph I(b), except that any operator who ceases operation for a period exceeding 4 years, or an applicant who fails to commence operation within 6 years of application approval, shall be subject to any intervening vote by the municipality.