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HB 737 · 2025 · House · Ways and Means Committee

Local option keno and gaming rules

AI-generated

(New Title) creating local options for games of chance, authorizing keno throughout the state, and changing charitable gaming license fees and reporting requirements.

Gives municipalities the option to prohibit games of chance and keno within their boundaries and revises charitable gaming license fees and reporting requirements.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · August 11, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Gives municipalities a local option to vote to prohibit the operation of games of chance within their boundaries. II. Automatically permits keno unless a municipality votes to prohibit it, giving local governments the option to ban games of chance within their boundaries. III. Makes changes to charitable gaming licensing fees and reporting requirements.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“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.”
RSA 287-D:32
“The lottery commission shall administer and enforce this subdivision [in any town or city that has voted to allow such gaming]. 288:3 Keno;”
RSA 284:42
“A licensee shall be permitted to operate keno games at its business pursuant to this subdivision, provided that no license shall be issued to an entity operating within a municipality which has voted to prohibit keno pursuant to RSA 284:51. 288:6 Facilities License Application;”
RSA 284:51-a
“In a town, the question shall be placed on the warrant of an annual town meeting under the procedures set out in RSA 39:3, and shall be voted on a ballot.”
RSA 287-D:32

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Bill BoydRPrimeClerk· Public Works and Highways
  • Rep. David PaigeDRanking Member· Housing
  • Rep. Walter SpilsburyRVice Chair· Education Funding
  • Sen. David RochefortRChair· Health and Human Services

Also: Rep. Joseph BartonR, Rep. Thomas SchambergD, Rep. Jerry StringhamD, Rep. Len TurcotteR

Public testimony

8 signed in online

88% support13% oppose0% neutral

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Ways and Means3:07:08–3:08:551m 47slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Ways and Means1:43:41–1:44:461m 5slocated in the stream transcript==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Mar 10, 2025Public hearingHouse Ways and Means3:39:08–3:49:2510m 17slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0850h; ==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0850h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0850h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 2, 2025Public hearingSenate Ways and Means40:44–44:433m 59slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 16, 2025Public hearingSenate Ways and Meansfrom 1:15:20located in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1638s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-1638s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-1638s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1638s and Requests CofC (Rep. Osborne) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Janigian, Ohm, Bryer, Oppel
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSen. Lang Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Lang, Sullivan, Fenton; (In Recess
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report Filed, # 2025-2810c; Conference Committee Report # 2025-2810c, Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2924e Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnamed in a list of bills, not taken up — opens the full streamConference Committee Report 2025-2810c: Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2924e — adopted, voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)

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. 25
  2. Feb 5, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/05/2025 01:00 pm LOB 203
  3. Mar 4, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 03/04/2025 11:00 am LOB 202-204
  4. Mar 10, 2025House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/10/2025 10:30 am LOB 202-204
  5. Mar 10, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0850h 03/10/2025 (Vote 15-0; CC)
  6. Mar 20, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0850h: AA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 18
  7. Mar 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0850h: MA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 18
  8. Mar 20, 2025SenIntroduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Ways and Means; SJ 9
  9. Apr 2, 2025SenHearing: 04/02/2025, Room 100, SH, 10:00 am; SC 15
  10. Apr 16, 2025SenHearing: 04/16/2025, Room 100, SH, 09:45 am, on proposed amendment #2025-1468s; SC 16
  11. May 1, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1638s, 05/01/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 19
  12. May 1, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-1638s, AA, VV; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  13. May 1, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-1638s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  14. May 20, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 05/20/2025 10:30 am LOB 202-204
  15. May 22, 2025HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1638s and Requests CofC (Rep. Osborne): MA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 53
  16. May 22, 2025HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Janigian, Ohm, Bryer, Oppel 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 53
  17. Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Lang Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  18. Jun 5, 2025SenPresident Appoints: Senators Lang, Sullivan, Fenton; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  19. Jun 17, 2025HouseConference Committee Meeting: 06/17/2025 10:30 am LOB 202-204
  20. Jun 12, 2025HouseConferee Change: Rep. Ulery Replaces Rep. Ohm 06/12/2025 HJ 17 P. 22
  21. Jun 26, 2025SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2025-2810c; 06/26/2025
  22. Jun 26, 2025SenConference Committee Report # 2025-2810c, Adopted, VV; 06/26/2025; SJ 17
  23. Jun 26, 2025HouseConference Committee Report 2025-2810c: Adopted, VV 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 18
  24. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2924e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  25. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2924e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 63
  26. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  27. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 64
  28. Aug 1, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 08/01/2025; Chapter 288; eff. I. Sec 2 3 5 eff. 06/01/2027 II. Rem eff. 07/01/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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