HB8 Alabama 2016 1st Special Session Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Craig Ford

Independent

Session

First Special Session 2016

Title

Hate crimes, motivated by victim's sexual orientation, additional penalties imposed, Sec. 13A-5-13 am'd.

Summary

HB8 would amend the Alabama Constitution to allow electronic bingo at a single Etowah County location run by a Native American tribe under IGRA, create local gaming authorities, and dedicate local tax revenue to infrastructure and community programs.

What This Bill Does

It defines bingo to include electronic devices authorized under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and operated by a Native American tribe at a single Etowah County location. It creates the Etowah County Gaming Commission to regulate bingo and the Etowah County Interstate 759 Extension Authority to manage the I-759 extension, with governance and appointment rules. It imposes a local gross receipts tax of 12.5% on bingo gaming revenue and a 4% local bingo vendor tax, in lieu of other local taxes for bingo (while operators still pay other standard taxes). It details how tax proceeds are distributed to various local projects and authorities, including infrastructure, schools, law enforcement, and nonprofits, with specific percentages and conditions, and sets rules for operation and compliance by the commissions and operators.

Who It Affects

• Bingo operators and bingo game vendors in Etowah County (including any Native American tribes operating IGRA-based bingo devices), who would be licensed, taxed, and regulated under the new framework.
• Residents and public entities in Etowah County (such as municipalities, school boards, sheriff, district attorney, circuit and probate courts, and nonprofit organizations) who would benefit from or be affected by the tax revenue allocations and new projects like the Interstate 759 extension, riverfront development, and public facilities.

Key Provisions

• Defines bingo to include electronic games or devices authorized by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and operated by a Native American tribe in Alabama at a single Etowah County location.
• Creates the Etowah County Gaming Commission (seven members) to regulate bingo, license operators, enforce rules, and coordinate with law enforcement; requires governance and ethics/open records compliance.
• Creates the Etowah County Interstate 759 Extension Authority (seven members) to fund, develop, promote, and oversee the Interstate 759 Extension in Etowah County, with broad powers to acquire property, enter contracts, and hire staff.
• Imposes a local bingo gross receipts tax of 12.5% on operator gaming revenue and a local bingo vendor tax of 4%, with tax payments due monthly; taxes replace other local taxes for bingo, while operators still pay standard state and local taxes on other goods and services.
• Detail how tax proceeds are distributed, including up to 25 million dollars to the Interstate 759 Extension Authority for construction, and multiple 0.8% allocations to various county committees (riverfront, mega sports authority, road improvements, economic growth, etc.), plus allocations to the sheriff, district attorney, court staff, municipalities, school boards, and nonprofits; provisions for proportional reductions if funds are insufficient.
• Imposes a separate local bingo vendor tax distribution: 1.5% to municipalities and 2.5% to the Mega Sports Authority.
• Section 8-9 and accompanying sections relate to existing bingo operations and state law; Section 9 notes that certain state codes do not apply to bingo conducted under this amendment; Section 2 requires an election to adopt the amendment.
• Defines eligibility and operation requirements for bingo, such as age 19+, on-premises operation, licensing rules, and prohibitions on sharing operator branding with others.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses