Struggling Texas Casino Bill Might Encounter Obstacles in the Upcoming Legislative Period
In the heart of Texas politics, the debate over the potential approval of commercial casinos is heating up. The latest developments suggest that the issue could be a hot topic during the upcoming 2025 legislative session.
According to Mark P. Jones, a political scientist at Rice University, the casino bill is not currently foreseen to pass during the 2025 session by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. However, Jones also notes that the bill is much better positioned for passage in 2025 than at the start of any prior legislative session.
The current stance of Lt. Gov. Patrick is that there aren't enough legislators who back a casino bill to get it approved. He also mentioned that the casino bill is not on anyone's top-20 list of priorities. However, Jones added that the bill will pass when the lieutenant governor and his fellow Texas Senate Republicans conclude that the benefits provided by the legislation in terms of jobs and tax revenue outweigh its negative social externalities.
Brandon Rottinghaus, a political scientist at the University of Houston, agrees that in the Texas Senate, what Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says, goes. Rottinghaus also noted that sometimes issues can take on their own momentum as the session starts its 140-day sprint, implying that there's a possibility the casino issue could develop as legislators arrive and stakeholders have a chance to weigh in.
One of the strongest backers of casino legislation in Texas is Las Vegas Sands Corp., with Andy Abboud, Senior Vice President of Government Relations, stating in July that Texas should open at least five destination casino resorts.
Interestingly, so far, legislators haven't heard from clergy or others opposed to gambling legislation. This could potentially influence Patrick's stance on the casino bill, as additional revenue could potentially be needed to fund high-priority policy issues for Texas Republicans such as school choice legislation and additional property tax relief.
Lt. Gov. Patrick also mentioned that for the bill to gain momentum, there needs to be grassroots support from constituents. The bill is currently at the two-yard line, according to Jones, meaning it's close to passing, but not guaranteed to pass during the Texas Legislature's upcoming biennial session.
Despite the current opposition, the possibility of commercial casinos being approved in Texas remains a topic of discussion and anticipation. The search results do not contain information on the specific person with the greatest influence on commercial casino legislation in the Texas Legislature. As the session approaches, the debate is expected to intensify, with stakeholders on both sides preparing to make their case.
This article was posted on November 14, 2024, at 08:58h and last updated on November 14, 2024, at 09:49h.
