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HB 3135

VIDEO GAMING-LICENSEE LOCATION

104th Regular Session Introduced by Harry Benton

Municipalities can set local buffer distances from schools or places of worship for video gaming sites, replacing the fixed statewide 100-foot rule.

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Bill Summary · HB 3135

Summary — HB 3135 (Video Gaming — Licensee Location)

Bill number: HB 3135
Statute amended: Video Gaming Act (230 ILCS 40/25)
Introduced: Feb 21, 2025 (Rep. Harry Benton)
Governor signed: May 24, 2025 — Effective: Sept 1, 2025

Purpose

HB 3135 modifies location restriction rules in the Illinois Video Gaming Act to give municipalities authority to set the minimum distance between video gaming establishments and schools or places of worship instead of using a single statewide 100-foot rule. It also clarifies how that distance is measured.

Key provisions

  • Replaces the fixed 100-foot prohibition with a municipal option:
    • A licensed establishment (including licensed establishments, licensed truck stop establishments, licensed large truck stop establishments, licensed fraternal establishments, and licensed veterans establishments) that is located within the number of feet “designated by the municipality in which the establishment is located” from a school or place of worship is ineligible to operate a video gaming terminal.
  • Measurement method clarified:
    • The distance between the licensed establishment and the school/place of worship shall be measured from the front door of the establishment to the front door of the school or place of worship.
  • Context retained in Section 25 (other provisions of Section 25 remain):
    • Existing licensing categories and restrictions (manufacturer, distributor, terminal operator, technician, terminal handler, sales agent).
    • Placement and use agreement requirements (e.g., written use agreements required between terminal operators and licensed premises).
    • Revenue sharing language appears in the text (50% of after-tax profits to terminal operator and 50% to the licensed establishment), and other operational and financial-interest restrictions remain in force.
  • The bill keeps other location restrictions in place (e.g., 1,000-foot restriction relative to horse racing/riverboat facilities) as currently stated.

Who is affected

  • Municipal governments: gain authority to set local buffer distances from schools and places of worship.
  • Licensed businesses: bars, truck stops, fraternal and veterans organizations, and other licensed establishments seeking to host video gaming terminals may be newly disqualified in municipalities that adopt larger buffers.
  • Terminal operators, distributors, and manufacturers: placement opportunities may change depending on municipal rules and the clarified measurement standard.
  • Schools and places of worship: local control may expand protective buffers in some communities.

Potential impacts

  • Increases local control and regulatory flexibility — municipalities can tailor buffer distances based on local priorities.
  • Creates variability across jurisdictions; terminal operators and establishments will need to track municipal ordinances to determine eligible locations.
  • Could reduce available locations in municipalities that adopt larger buffer zones, affecting revenues for establishments and terminal operators.
  • Clarified measurement (front door to front door) reduces ambiguity in enforcement and siting determinations.

Procedural & timeline notes

  • Filed Feb 21, 2025; advanced through committee and both chambers in April–May 2025.
  • Signed by Governor May 24, 2025; effective date set for Sept 1, 2025.
  • Statutory reference: amendment to 230 ILCS 40/25 (Section 25 of the Video Gaming Act).

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

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