Bill Text: IA HSB80 | 2025-2026 | 91st General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A bill for an act concerning the licensing and regulation of gambling games, including a moratorium on the issuance of new licenses, providing fees, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(See HF 144.)
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-27 - Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 144. [HSB80 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2025-HSB80-Introduced.html
House
Study
Bill
80
-
Introduced
HOUSE
FILE
_____
BY
(PROPOSED
COMMITTEE
ON
WAYS
AND
MEANS
BILL
BY
CHAIRPERSON
KAUFMANN)
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
concerning
the
licensing
and
regulation
of
gambling
1
games,
including
a
moratorium
on
the
issuance
of
new
2
licenses,
providing
fees,
and
including
effective
date
and
3
retroactive
applicability
provisions.
4
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
5
TLSB
1488YC
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ll/ns
H.F.
_____
Section
1.
Section
99F.4,
subsection
24,
Code
2025,
is
1
amended
to
read
as
follows:
2
24.
a.
To
conduct
a
socioeconomic
study
on
the
impact
of
3
gambling
on
Iowans,
every
eight
years
beginning
in
calendar
4
year
2013,
and
issue
a
report
on
that
study.
The
commission
5
shall
ensure
that
the
results
of
each
study
are
readily
6
accessible
to
the
public.
7
b.
The
report
on
the
study
must
include
all
of
the
8
following:
9
(1)
Information
on
the
financial
and
societal
impact
of
10
gambling.
11
(2)
An
analysis
of
problem
gambling
and
treatment
programs.
12
(3)
An
evaluation
of
existing
excursion
gambling
boats,
13
gambling
structures,
and
pari-mutuel
racetracks
located
in
14
rural
areas
or
near
the
state
border,
if
a
new
license
is
15
awarded.
16
(4)
A
comprehensive
assessment
of
potential
gambling
market
17
conditions.
18
(5)
An
evaluation
of
the
effects
on
the
gambling
market
from
19
competitive
gambling
locations
located
within
sixty
miles
of
20
the
state.
21
(6)
An
evaluation
of
the
effects
on
attracting
out-of-state
22
tourists
to
existing
excursion
gambling
boats,
gambling
23
structures,
and
pari-mutuel
racetracks
located
near
the
state
24
border.
25
(7)
An
evaluation
of
the
effects
on
existing
qualified
26
sponsoring
organizations
and
potential
reductions
in
annual
27
distributions
made
by
the
sponsoring
organization,
if
a
new
28
license
is
awarded.
29
(8)
The
percentage
ownership
of
existing
gambling
boats,
30
gambling
structures,
and
pari-mutuel
racetracks
by
residents
of
31
this
state
versus
any
applicant.
32
(9)
A
comprehensive
study
of
new
potential
adjusted
gross
33
receipts
after
awarding
a
new
license
and
the
level
of
gambling
34
saturation
with
a
sixty-mile
radius
of
any
existing
excursion
35
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_____
gambling
boat,
gambling
structure,
or
racetrack
enclosure.
1
(10)
Criminal
statistics
near
existing
excursion
gambling
2
boats,
gambling
structures,
or
racetrack
enclosures,
and
near
3
any
potential
locations
of
an
excursion
gambling
boat,
gambling
4
structure,
or
racetrack
enclosure.
5
(11)
An
analysis
of
the
impact
on
community
services,
6
including
public
safety
expenditures,
fire
protection,
7
infrastructure
improvements,
and
other
capital
project
8
expenditures
in
counties.
9
Sec.
2.
NEW
SECTION
.
99F.5A
Limitations
on
issuance
of
10
licenses
to
conduct
gambling
games.
11
1.
a.
Commencing
January
1,
2025,
through
June
30,
2030,
12
the
total
number
of
licenses
issued
by
the
commission
to
13
conduct
gambling
games
on
an
excursion
gambling
boat,
at
a
14
gambling
structure,
or
at
a
pari-mutuel
racetrack
shall
not
15
exceed
nineteen
subject
to
the
requirements
of
this
subsection.
16
b.
Licenses
to
conduct
gambling
games
shall
be
restricted
17
to
those
counties
where
an
excursion
gambling
boat,
gambling
18
structure,
or
racetrack
enclosure
was
operating
and
licensed
to
19
conduct
gambling
games
on
January
1,
2025.
20
c.
The
commission
shall
be
authorized
to
take
any
of
the
21
following
actions
concerning
the
issuance
of
licenses
to
22
conduct
gambling
games:
23
(1)
A
gambling
games
licensee
may
move
to
a
new
location
24
within
the
same
county
and
retain
the
gambling
games
license.
25
(2)
A
licensed
facility
may
be
sold
and
a
new
gambling
games
26
license
issued
for
operation
in
the
same
county.
27
(3)
If
a
license
to
conduct
gambling
games
is
surrendered,
28
not
renewed,
or
revoked,
a
new
gambling
games
license
may
be
29
issued
for
operation
in
the
same
county.
30
2.
On
or
after
July
1,
2030,
the
commission
shall
not
31
issue
a
new
license
until
after
the
commission
has
issued
the
32
required
report
on
the
socioeconomic
study
on
the
impact
of
33
gambling
on
Iowans
due
for
calendar
year
2029
in
accordance
34
with
section
99F.4,
subsection
24.
35
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_____
3.
This
section
is
repealed
July
1,
2031.
1
Sec.
3.
Section
99F.6,
subsection
5,
Code
2025,
is
amended
2
to
read
as
follows:
3
5.
Before
a
license
is
granted,
an
operator
of
an
excursion
4
gambling
boat
shall
work
with
the
economic
development
5
authority
to
promote
tourism
throughout
Iowa
and
encourage
6
tourism
from
other
states
.
Tourism
information
from
local
7
civic
and
private
persons
may
be
submitted
for
dissemination.
8
The
commission
shall
not
issue
a
new
license
for
a
new
location
9
that
would
negatively
impact
an
existing
licensee
located
10
in
a
county
contiguous
to
the
Iowa
border
or
located
in
a
11
county
that
qualifies
as
a
rural
county.
For
purposes
of
this
12
subsection,
“rural
county”
means
a
county
with
a
population
13
of
less
than
thirty
thousand
as
determined
by
the
most
recent
14
population
estimate
produced
by
the
United
States
bureau
of
15
the
census
or
the
most
recent
decennial
census
released
by
the
16
United
States
bureau
of
the
census.
17
Sec.
4.
Section
99F.6,
Code
2025,
is
amended
by
adding
the
18
following
new
subsection:
19
NEW
SUBSECTION
.
10.
a.
The
commission
shall
not
issue
a
20
new
license
to
conduct
gambling
games
if
the
commission
finds
21
the
approval
of
a
new
license
would
cause
or
do
any
of
the
22
following:
23
(1)
Negatively
impact
the
adjusted
gross
receipts
of
an
24
existing
excursion
gambling
boat,
gambling
structure,
or
25
racetrack
enclosure
by
more
than
ten
percent.
26
(2)
Negatively
impact
the
annual
distributions
of
an
27
existing
qualified
sponsoring
organization.
28
b.
If
the
commission
does
not
issue
a
new
license
to
conduct
29
gambling
games
in
a
county,
another
application
shall
not
be
30
submitted
for
that
county
for
eight
years
from
the
date
of
the
31
decision
not
to
issue
the
license.
32
Sec.
5.
Section
99F.10,
subsection
8,
Code
2025,
is
amended
33
to
read
as
follows:
34
8.
a.
In
addition
to
any
other
fees
required
by
this
35
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chapter
,
a
person
awarded
a
new
license
to
conduct
gambling
1
games
pursuant
to
section
99F.7
on
or
after
January
1,
2004,
2
shall
pay
the
applicable
initial
license
fee
to
the
commission
3
as
provided
by
this
subsection
.
A
person
awarded
a
new
license
4
shall
pay
one-fifth
of
the
applicable
initial
license
fee
5
immediately
upon
the
granting
of
the
license,
one-fifth
of
the
6
applicable
initial
license
fee
within
one
year
of
the
granting
7
of
the
license,
one-fifth
of
the
applicable
initial
license
8
fee
within
two
years
of
the
granting
of
the
license,
one-fifth
9
of
the
applicable
initial
license
fee
within
three
years
of
10
the
granting
of
the
license,
and
the
remaining
one-fifth
of
11
the
applicable
initial
license
fee
within
four
years
of
the
12
granting
of
the
license.
However,
the
license
fee
provided
13
for
in
this
subsection
shall
only
apply
when
a
new
license
is
14
issued
to
a
person
for
a
facility
that
increases
the
number
15
of
licensed
facilities
in
the
applicable
county
or
counties.
16
Fees
paid
pursuant
to
this
subsection
are
not
refundable
to
the
17
licensee.
18
b.
(1)
The
initial
license
fee
set
forth
in
this
19
subparagraph
is
subject
to
adjustment
pursuant
to
subparagraph
20
(2).
For
purposes
of
this
subsection
,
the
applicable
initial
21
license
fee
shall
be
five
million
dollars
if
the
population
22
of
the
county
where
the
licensee
shall
conduct
gambling
23
games
is
fifteen
thousand
or
less
based
upon
the
most
recent
24
federal
decennial
census,
shall
be
ten
million
dollars
if
the
25
population
of
the
county
where
the
licensee
shall
conduct
26
gambling
games
is
more
than
fifteen
thousand
and
less
than
one
27
hundred
thousand
based
upon
the
most
recent
federal
decennial
28
census,
and
shall
be
twenty
million
dollars
if
the
population
29
of
the
county
where
the
licensee
shall
conduct
gambling
games
30
is
one
hundred
thousand
or
more
based
upon
the
most
recent
31
federal
decennial
census.
32
(2)
(a)
For
purposes
of
this
subparagraph:
33
(i)
“Annual
inflation
factor”
means
the
same
as
defined
in
34
section
422.4.
35
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(ii)
“Cumulative
inflation
factor”
means
the
product
of
1
the
annual
inflation
factor
for
the
calendar
year
beginning
2
on
January
1,
2004,
and
all
annual
inflation
factors
for
3
subsequent
calendar
years
as
determined
pursuant
to
this
4
subparagraph.
The
cumulative
inflation
factor
applies
to
years
5
beginning
on
or
after
January
1
of
the
calendar
year
for
which
6
the
latest
annual
inflation
factor
has
been
determined.
7
(iii)
The
annual
inflation
factor
for
the
calendar
year
8
beginning
on
January
1,
2004,
is
one
hundred
percent.
9
(b)
Commencing
with
the
calendar
year
beginning
January
1,
10
2005,
and
for
each
calendar
year
thereafter,
the
commission
11
shall
determine
the
latest
cumulative
inflation
factor
for
12
each
calendar
year,
and
multiply
each
applicable
initial
13
license
fee
in
subparagraph
(1)
by
the
applicable
cumulative
14
inflation
factor,
and
shall
round
off
the
resulting
product
to
15
the
nearest
one
dollar,
and
such
resulting
product
shall
be
16
the
initial
license
fee
in
subparagraph
(1)
for
the
year
a
new
17
license
is
awarded.
18
c.
Moneys
collected
by
the
commission
from
an
initial
19
license
fee
paid
under
this
subsection
shall
be
deposited
in
20
the
rebuild
Iowa
infrastructure
fund
created
in
section
8.57
.
21
Sec.
6.
INTERNET
GAMING
——
REVIEW.
22
1.
The
state
racing
and
gaming
commission
shall
initiate
23
and
coordinate
an
independent
review
of
regulation
frameworks
24
and
the
various
components
implementing
internet
gaming
in
the
25
state
and
its
impact
on
the
state’s
gaming
industry.
26
2.
a.
The
review
must
take
into
account
the
policy
27
objectives
of
ensuring
and
preserving
Iowa’s
competitiveness
28
in
the
gaming
industry
and
may
consider
all
of
the
following:
29
recent
trends
in
Iowa
gaming
revenue
and
the
correlation
to
30
gaming
attendance
at
brick
and
mortar
casino
locations
and
a
31
comparison
to
gaming
trends
in
other
states;
estimates
of
the
32
potential
impact
on
Iowa
gaming
revenues,
profitability,
and
33
how
that
might
impact
Iowa
jobs,
business
vendors,
nonprofit
34
fund
sharing,
and
tax
revenues;
and
the
societal
impact
of
35
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internet
gaming
and
how
to
ensure
safety
and
security
for
Iowa
1
consumers.
2
b.
The
review
must
analyze
and
report
on
the
illegal
3
gambling
market
and
the
illegal
internet
gambling
market
4
including
all
of
the
following:
societal
impacts,
underage
5
access,
the
integrity
of
illegal
gambling
games,
the
payment
of
6
winnings,
anti-money
laundering
aspects,
and
identity
theft.
7
c.
The
review
must
include
an
assessment
of
the
8
effectiveness
of
problem
gambling
services
in
the
state.
9
d.
The
review
must
include
an
assessment
of
the
direct
and
10
indirect
employment
effects
on
the
surrounding
communities
11
where
existing
licensees
are
located.
12
3.
The
review
must
include
recommendations
for
changes
in
13
law
and
administrative
rules
and
identification
of
internet
14
gaming
laws
and
procedures
of
other
states
that,
if
adopted
in
15
Iowa,
could
enhance
and
preserve
the
competitiveness
of
the
16
existing
gaming
industry
in
the
state.
17
4.
The
state
racing
and
gaming
commission
shall,
and
18
existing
licensees
and
other
interested
persons
may,
19
participate
in
the
review.
The
commission
may
utilize
20
additional
services
to
assist
in
the
coordination
of
the
review
21
and
preparation
of
the
report.
The
commission
shall
submit
22
a
report
with
findings
and
recommendations
to
the
general
23
assembly
by
January
1,
2026.
24
Sec.
7.
EFFECTIVE
DATE.
This
Act,
being
deemed
of
immediate
25
importance,
takes
effect
upon
enactment.
26
Sec.
8.
RETROACTIVE
APPLICABILITY.
This
Act
applies
27
retroactively
to
January
1,
2025.
28
EXPLANATION
29
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
30
the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
31
This
bill
concerns
the
licensing
and
regulation
of
gambling
32
games.
Under
current
law,
the
state
racing
and
gaming
33
commission
(commission)
is
required
to
conduct
a
socioeconomic
34
study
on
the
impact
of
gambling
on
Iowans
every
eight
years.
35
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_____
The
bill
identifies
certain
topics
the
commission
must
examine
1
for
this
socioeconomic
study,
and
prohibits
the
commission
2
from
issuing
a
new
license
on
or
after
July
1,
2030,
until
the
3
required
report
on
the
socioeconomic
study
has
been
issued
by
4
the
commission
for
2029.
5
The
bill
places
a
moratorium
on
the
issuance
of
new
licenses
6
to
conduct
gambling
games
in
excess
of
19
licenses
from
January
7
1,
2025,
through
June
30,
2030.
The
bill
restricts
gambling
8
games
licenses
to
those
counties
conducting
gambling
games
on
9
January
1,
2025.
The
bill
allows
the
commission
to
authorize
a
10
gambling
games
licensee
to
move
to
a
new
location
within
the
11
same
county,
to
issue
a
gambling
games
license
in
a
county
if
12
a
licensed
facility
in
that
county
is
sold,
and
to
issue
a
new
13
license
in
a
county
if
a
previous
license
to
conduct
gambling
14
games
in
that
county
was
surrendered,
not
renewed,
or
revoked.
15
Before
a
license
is
granted,
the
bill
requires
an
operator
16
of
an
excursion
gambling
boat
to
work
with
the
economic
17
development
authority
to
encourage
tourism
from
other
states.
18
The
bill
prohibits
the
commission
from
issuing
a
new
gambling
19
games
license
to
an
excursion
gambling
boat
if
the
new
20
license
would
impact
an
existing
licensee
located
in
a
county
21
contiguous
to
the
Iowa
border
or
a
“rural
county”
(a
county
22
with
a
population
less
than
30,000).
23
The
bill
prohibits
the
commission
from
issuing
a
new
24
gambling
games
license
if
the
new
license
would
negatively
25
impact
the
adjusted
gross
receipts
of
an
existing
gambling
26
games
licensee
by
more
than
10
percent,
or
negatively
impact
27
the
annual
distributions
of
an
existing
qualified
sponsoring
28
organization.
If
the
commission
does
not
issue
a
gambling
29
games
license
in
a
county,
another
applicant
cannot
apply
for
a
30
license
in
the
same
county
for
eight
years
from
the
date
of
the
31
decision
not
to
issue.
32
The
bill
places
an
inflation
adjustment
on
the
initial
33
license
fees
in
Code
section
99F.10(8).
34
The
bill
requires
the
commission
to
study
internet
gaming
35
-7-
LSB
1488YC
(7)
91
ll/ns
7/
8
