SB26 Alabama 2016 1st Special Session Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg AlbrittonSenator

Republican

Session

First Special Session 2016

Title

Gaming, Governor, negotiation of gaming compact with Poarch Creek Indians required; const. amend.

Summary

The bill would amend Alabama's Constitution to require the Governor to negotiate a gaming compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians for Class III gaming on lands held in trust.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes the Governor or a designee to negotiate and conclude a Class III gaming compact with the Poarch Band on trust lands, for more than 25 years. It allows the state to grant rights or licenses to gaming operators without competitive bidding if negotiated in good faith and expected to create jobs, and it requires the executed compact to be filed with state officials and reviewed by the federal government, with disputes handled in federal court and a limited waiver of state immunity. The amendment also establishes that its operation cannot be overridden by conflicting constitutional provisions and sets a voter-approved referendum process.

Who It Affects

• Poarch Band of Creek Indians – could operate Class III gaming on lands held in trust through a negotiated compact (long-term) and receive consideration under the terms of the agreement.
• Alabama residents and the state government – potential job creation and economic activity from gaming projects; the Governor gains authority to negotiate and enter into related agreements and the process requires voter approval and federal review.

Key Provisions

• Authorized negotiation and conclusion of a compact for Class III gaming with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians on lands held in trust by the United States.
• Permitted gaming items include slot machines, video lottery terminals, banked card games (e.g., baccarat, chemin de fer, blackjack), and table games (e.g., roulette, craps).
• Compact may operate for more than 25 years on trust lands in exchange for consideration, terms to be set in the compact.
• Governor or designee may negotiate and enter into agreements with gaming operators, including on trust lands, without a competitive bidding process, so long as negotiations are in good faith and job opportunities for state residents are likely.
• The state may provide contractual/licensure rights to gaming operators without regard to exclusivity or duration, under good-faith negotiations, with adequate consideration.
• After negotiations, a copy of the executed compact must be sent to state leaders, filed with the Secretary of State, and forwarded to the federal Interior Department for review.
• Disputes are to be resolved in federal court with the state's immunity waived for this purpose, contingent on equivalent submission by the Poarch Band to federal jurisdiction.
• Section 2 ensures the amendment overrides conflicting provisions; Section 3 outlines the election process for voter approval.

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

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments