HB47 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim HillRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Constitutional Amendment; noncommercial paper raffles and paper bingo for charitable purposes, authorized

Summary

HB47 would amend the Alabama Constitution to let the Legislature authorize and regulate traditional paper raffles and paper bingo for noncommercial charitable fundraising.

What This Bill Does

The bill would add a new constitutional section that allows the Legislature, by general law, to authorize, license, tax, and regulate traditional paper raffles and traditional paper bingo conducted only for noncommercial charitable fundraising. It specifies that these activities use basic materials like cardboard, paper, or plastic, and must remain noncommercial and for charitable purposes. It maintains the current prohibition on lotteries and gift enterprises unless a separate general-law framework is created, and it requires voter approval before the amendment takes effect.

Who It Affects

• Charitable organizations and nonprofits that run raffles or bingo games, as they would be eligible to obtain authorization, licensing, and possible taxation under new general laws.
• Members of the public who participate in raffles or bingo under the new, regulated framework, with activities restricted to noncommercial charitable fundraising.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 65 to keep a prohibition on lotteries and gift enterprises, but adds Section 65.1 to authorize traditional paper raffles and traditional paper bingo by general law for noncommercial charitable fundraising.
• Allows the Legislature to authorize, license, tax, and regulate these activities.
• Requires activities to use traditional materials (cardboard, paper, plastic, or similar) and to be conducted solely for noncommercial charitable fundraising purposes.
• Requires voter approval via a constitutional amendment election, after which the amendment would become part of the Constitution.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Gaming