WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HF 931

A bill for an act concerning card game tournaments conducted by qualified organizations representing veterans.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Adam Zabner

The bill loosens entry restrictions for veterans’ card game tournaments, allowing flexible formats (including multiple entries) for qualifying, tax-exempt organizations.

Introduced, referred to Veterans Affairs.
#gambling #veteransaffairs
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 931

Summary: HF 931 (Introduced March 12, 2025)

Overview

HF 931 is an introduced bill that would modify rules governing card game tournaments conducted by organizations representing veterans. The bill amends the gambling provisions to relax a specific entry-rule requirement for qualified veterans organizations and clarifies the definition of a “qualified organization representing veterans.” It was introduced on March 12, 2025 and referred to the Veterans Affairs committee. Primary sponsor: ZABNER.

Purpose and Intent

  • To loosen a current restriction on card game tournaments run by qualified veterans organizations.
  • To ensure that organizations representing veterans can conduct card game tournaments without the existing obligation that all participants have an identical chance of winning and without prohibiting second entries or multiple entries.
  • To align qualification of eligible organizations with federal charter and tax-exemption criteria, ensuring net receipts from such games are used in specified ways.

Key Provisions ( substantive changes)

  • Amends Section 99B.27, subsection 2, paragraph f (Code reference), by striking the paragraph that requires:
    • Every participant in a card game tournament must have the same chance of winning.
    • The organization must not permit second-chance entries or multiple entries in the tournament.
  • Defines a “qualified organization representing veterans” as:
    • A post, branch, or chapter of a national association of veterans of the armed forces of the United States.
    • Federally chartered corporation.
    • Dedicates the net receipts of a game of skill, game of chance, or raffle as provided in Code section 99B.14.
    • Is exempt from federal income taxation.

Affected Parties and Entities

  • Qualified organizations representing veterans that meet the above definition (posts/branches/chapters of federally chartered veteran associations with tax-exempt status).
  • Participants in card game tournaments conducted by such organizations (as the eligibility criteria for organizers is changed, not the requirements on participants per se).
  • State gambling regulators and the Veterans Affairs committee overseeing the implementation of gambling provisions.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Introduced and referred to Veterans Affairs on March 12, 2025.
  • Next steps: Would proceed through the committee process (hearing, potential amendments) before any floor action.

Potential Impacts

  • Administrative: Removes a specific restriction on entry structure, potentially allowing more flexible tournament formats (including multiple or second entries) for qualifying veteran organizations.
  • Financial: Could affect prize structures or revenue models due to altered entry dynamics; the bill maintains that net receipts must be used as allowed under Code section 99B.14 and maintain federal tax-exemption status.
  • Fairness and Oversight: Changes the fairness constraint related to identical odds; regulators may monitor for compliance with broader charitable gambling and tax-exemption requirements.

Notes

  • The bill retains linkage to existing charitable gambling provisions (99B.14) and the federal tax-exemption criterion, ensuring continued alignment with federal-charter and tax status for qualifying organizations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.