SB122 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim McClendon

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Gaming industry, campaign contributions to state and legislative candidates and officials prohibited

Summary

SB 122 would ban campaign contributions between Alabama's gaming industry operators and top state officials and candidates for those offices.

What This Bill Does

The bill adds a new rule (Section 17-5-7.3) that prevents the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and members of the Legislature, or anyone running for those offices, from soliciting or accepting contributions from anyone known to operate race meetings, gaming, or pari-mutual wagering, or from officers, directors, or owners of such operators. It also bars owners and operators of gaming or pari-mutual wagering operations from contributing to those officials or their campaigns. Additionally, entities authorized to conduct racing or gaming cannot contribute to principal campaign committees or PACs that support or oppose these candidates. The law would take effect on the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

Who It Affects

• Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and members of the Alabama Legislature, and any candidate running for those offices (restrictions on receiving contributions).
• Owners and operators of gaming or pari-mutual wagering operations in Alabama (restrictions on making contributions).
• People authorized to conduct race meetings or racing or to operate gaming or pari-mutual wagering operations, and their officers, directors, or owners (prohibited from contributing).
• Principal campaign committees and political action committees seeking to endorse or defeat such candidates (restricted from accepting contributions from gaming operators).

Key Provisions

• Adds new Section 17-5-7.3 to prohibit solicitations or acceptance of contributions by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Legislature members, or candidates from persons known or reasonably should have known to be owners or operators of gaming or pari-mutual wagering operations, or from their officers/directors/owners.
• Prohibits owners and operators of gaming or pari-mutual wagering operations from making contributions to those officials or candidates.
• Prohibits such gaming-related entities or individuals from contributing to principal campaign committees or PACs seeking to endorse or defeat these candidates.
• Establishes severability (unaffected parts remain valid if any part is struck down) and sets an effective date: the first day of the third month after passage and Governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Campaign Contributions