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HB 531 · 2025 · House · Ways and Means Committee

Cap on charity gaming payouts

AI-generated

setting annual limits on the amount of charitable gaming revenue which may be distributed to one charitable organization.

Caps the annual amount a single charitable organization may receive from historic horse race wagering or games-of-chance revenue at $50,000, directing any excess revenue to the lottery commission's special fund.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 6, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill limits the amount which may be awarded to any one charity from historic horse race wagering and games of chance to $50,000, and provides that excess revenue shall be paid to the lottery commission.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Each person, association, or corporation licensed to conduct historic horse race wagering shall collect a sum equal to 25 percent of revenues generated from historic horse race pari-mutuel pools after breakage and payment of winnings to patrons.”
Section 1
“No charitable organization shall receive less than 35 percent of the gross revenues from any games of chance minus any prizes paid, provided that no licensee shall distribute more than $50,000 of said revenues minus any prizes paid in any calendar year to any single charitable organization.”
Section 2
“Each licensee that conducts wagering on historic horse races shall distribute 35 percent of the amount collected under this paragraph to charitable organizations with whom the licensee contracts on each licensed game date, provided that no licensee shall distribute more than $50,000 of said collected amount in any calendar year to any single charitable organization.”
Section 1
“Any excess above such collected amount shall be paid to the lottery commission for use according to the special fund established under RSA 284:21-j.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Dick AmesDPrime

Public testimony

461 signed in online · 204 wrote testimony

2% support98% oppose0% neutral

AgainstCharitable gaming revenue is a vital funding source for nonprofits

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“With such a shortage of affordable housing, this will incentive developers to include affordable housing in their plans.”
— Judith King, Concordsupports
“I'm clearly in the minority here, supporting this bill, but it's because I support access to this funding by the NH nonprofit community and I think a cap on maximum payout to a single organization makes good sense.…”
— Mary Jenkins, Goffstownsupports
“The fact that a percentage of gaming revenue is shared with non-profits in New Hampshire makes the presence of this industry beneficial to more of the New Hampshire community.…”
— Jane Bannister, Kensington · My Son and my Familyopposes
“Organizations like the Krempels Brain Injury Center really rely and count on that money to help the general public.”
— Brian Marquis, Durhamopposes
“I am a combat veteran of the United States Navy, who served for over a decade. I am employed by the Krempels Brain Injury Center.…”
— Heidi Savage, Exeteropposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 19, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate19–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 6, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Ways and Means2:05:57–2:06:5053slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Ways and Means1:06:59–1:09:562m 57slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Ways and Means HJ 3 P. 14
  2. Feb 4, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/04/2025 10:30 am LOB 202-204
  3. Feb 19, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/19/2025 10:15 am LOB 201
  4. Feb 21, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 02/21/2025 10:15 am LOB 203
  5. Feb 19, 2025House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/19/2025 (Vote 19-0; CC) HC 14 P. 15
  6. Mar 6, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 21

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.