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HB 4550

Gaming: bingo and charitable gaming; raffling off firearms at fundraisers on school grounds; prohibit. Amends sec. 5d of 1972 PA 382 (MCL 432.105d).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joey Andrews and 24 co-sponsors

Prohibits raffling firearms as prizes when drawings occur on school property, while expanding raffling licenses for qualified groups with location/date rules.

bill electronically reproduced 06/04/2025
#education:other #gaming:bingoandcharitablegaming #weapons:firearms
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Bill Summary · HB 4550

Summary of HB 4550 (Michigan)

Overview

HB 4550 proposes amendments to section 5d of 1972 PA 382 (Traxler-McCauley-Law-Bowman bingo act), as added by 1999 PA 108. The bill would modify rules governing charitable gaming raffles, with a specific prohibition on raffling firearms at fundraisers conducted on school grounds. The bill was electronically reproduced on June 4, 2025 and introduced by Rep. Julie Rogers on June 4, 2025. It has been referred to the Committee on Regulatory Reform. A companion bill exists in the Senate: SB 2709.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Raffle Licenses (general)

    • A qualified organization may apply for an unlimited number of both small and large raffle licenses.

  • Limitations by Location and Date

    • Only one small raffle license may be issued for a location on any single day.
    • If a small raffle license is issued for more than one date, all drawing locations must be the same for those dates.

  • Firearm Prize Prohibition at Schools

    • If the drawing location is a school, the prize for a raffle may not be a firearm.
    • Definitions:
    • “Firearm” means the term as defined in section 1 of 1927 PA 372, MCL 28.421.
    • “School” means a public or private school, grades K–12; home schooling is excluded.

  • License Exemption (One-Time Gatherings)

    • A qualified organization is exempt from licensing requirements if it sponsors a single gathering and conducts a raffle where there is no presale of tickets and the total aggregate retail value of prizes awarded that day is $100 or less.

Who Is Affected

  • Qualified Organizations conducting charitable gaming raffles under the bingo act (e.g., non-profit groups, charitable organizations).
  • Raffle Operators and Hosts planning events at various venues, including schools, must adjust practices to comply with the school-prize prohibition.
  • Schools hosting raffles may be affected by the prohibition on firearm prizes and the broader licensing framework.

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Introduced / Status
    • Introduced: March 12, 2025.
    • Read first time: June 4, 2025.
    • Referred to Committee: Regulatory Reform (also noted as Regulatory Reform in actions).
  • Legislative Actions
    • Read first time: April 3, 2025 (listed as public education referral earlier in the process).
    • Filed: March 12, 2025.
  • Related Legislation
    • Companion bill: SB 2709 (Senate).

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Fundraising Flexibility: Allowing unlimited raffle licenses increases potential fundraising opportunities for qualified organizations, subject to the new location/date constraints.
  • Administrative Burden: The new licensing framework (unlimited licenses with one small license per location per day and the location-consistency rule for multi-date small licenses) could require more careful planning and record-keeping.
  • School Fundraisers: The explicit prohibition on firearm prizes at school fundraisers tightens restrictions around school-associated charitable gaming, potentially reducing certain fundraising options at school venues.
  • Exemption for Small, One-Day Events: The $100 cap on prizes for single-gathering raffles provides a simple exemption that could facilitate small community events without licensing requirements.

What’s Next

  • Await committee review and potential amendments in Regulatory Reform.
  • If advanced, the bill would proceed through additional floor votes in the Michigan House and Senate, followed by potential reconciliation with any companion Senate/House changes.

This summary focuses on the bill’s substantive content, its stated purpose, and immediate effects on governance of bingo and charitable gaming in Michigan, including the notable prohibition on firearm prizes at school locations.

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

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