The General Assembly ended its second special session of 2012 by passing legislation that will authorize a video lottery facility in Prince George’s County and table games at all video lottery facilities. Parts of the 70-page bill, which was signed into law this morning by Governor O’Malley, will be subject to voter approval at the November election. Additionally, the bill expresses the intent of the General Assembly that the Prince George’s gaming license not be issued unless voters in that county also endorse the bill during the referendum.
Parts of the bill that will be subject to referendum include:
- Authorization of a video lottery facility in Prince George’s County at a location within 4 miles of the intersection of Bock and St. Barnabas Roads, which could have up to 3,000 video lottery machines and open as soon as July 1, 2016
- Authorization of all video lottery licensees to offer table games
- Increasing the licensees’ share of video lottery proceeds
- Authorizing licensees to operate 24 hours a day
Parts of the bill not subject to referendum include:
- Requiring most licensees to purchase video lottery machines and receive an increased share of video lottery proceeds
- Reconstituting the Lottery Commission to be called the Lottery and Gaming Control Commission
- Expanding the uses of the Education Trust fund to include public early childhood programs
- Prohibiting video lottery applicants and owners from making campaign contributions in state elections
- Exempting video lottery machines from the local personal property tax
See a detailed summary of the bill as amended by the Ways & Means Committee (but without House floor amendments).
See the bill as enacted into law.
The General Assembly failed to reach agreement on legislation that would overturn the recent Court of Appeals decision that holds strictly liable any owner of a pit bull or pit bull mix, or a landlord that knows or should have known that a tenant had such a dog. As a result of the General Assembly’s failure to act, both commercial and residential landlords and insurers will likely move to alter their leases or policies to exclude such dogs from their premises or insurance coverage in order to avoid liability. This issue will now await further action at the 2013 session. For further information contact Ron Wineholt at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
About Ronald W. Wineholt