Despite taking up hours of debate in the Texas House last week, legislation to expand gambling is officially dead on arrival in the Senate.
House Joint Resolution 102 by State Rep. Jeff Leach (R–Plano) along with its House Bill 1942 would legalize sports betting in Texas, provided voters approved the measure on the ballot in November. Critics have argued that online gambling can be even more harmful than casinos, as people have the ability to lose significant amounts of money quickly from the comfort of their home.
The House ultimately approved the measure last week by a vote of 101-42, barely clearing the two-thirds requirement for passage.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says the measure won’t make it through the Senate.
“I’ve said repeatedly there is little to no support for expanding gaming from Senate GOP. I polled members this week. Nothing changed. The senate must focus on issues voters expect us to pass. We don’t waste time on bills without overwhelming GOP support. HB1942 won’t be referred,” Patrick wrote in a post on Twitter.
I've said repeatedly there is little to no support for expanding gaming from Senate GOP. I polled members this week. Nothing changed. The senate must focus on issues voters expect us to pass. We don’t waste time on bills without overwhelming GOP support. HB1942 won’t be referred.…
— Office of the Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (@LtGovTX) May 13, 2023
Patrick later doubled down on his comments, pointing out that the bill was passed by a Democrat majority in the House and that the Senate would not waste time on the proposal.
Texas is a red state. Yet the House vote on sports betting was carried by a Dem majority.
The Texas Senate doesn’t pass bills with GOP in the minority. The GOP majority guides our path.
HJR102 also will not be referred.
Can’t waste committee/floor time in the last days. #txlege— Office of the Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (@LtGovTX) May 14, 2023
The comments come as part of Patrick’s increasingly public frustration with the House’s slow pace toward passing conservative priorities.
“They did not work as many days early in session as the Senate. They weren’t passing bills early,” Patrick said during a recent interview with Texas Scorecard. “Most of our bills have been over there … for almost a month. And I don’t know why they started on a slow pace, but they just did.”
The regular legislative session will end on May 29.
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