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While two Texas bills to legalize sports betting advanced through the Texas House Committee on State Affairs by a 9-3 vote on Monday, most believe they have a slim chance of passing the Senate.
The House State Affairs Committee approved HB1942 and HJR102, both of which had been pending since their March 22 hearing. HB1942 would legalize mobile sports betting in Texas, while HJR155 would establish brick-and-mortar casinos.
The votes fell along party lines, with Republican Representatives Shelby Slawson of Stephenville, Will Metcalf of Conroe, and John Smithee of Amarillo all voting against.
Gaming advocates, led by the Las Vegas Sands, have targeted Texas for the last two legislative sessions. The current sports betting bills have had more success than proposals made last session, which received hearings in committee but were never voted out.
With the support of local professional sports franchises and revenue estimates in the billions of dollars annually, it’s unlikely that Texas sports gambling proposals are likely to go away without a fight.
Republican-Led Senate Opposed to Gambling Bills
Republican Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, presiding officer of the Senate, has been a consistent proponent of expanding gambling in Texas. Patrick has made a point in recent media appearances to note that the Senate lacks the GOP support he wants to see for either proposal.
In what may be an effort to placate Patrick, committee members voted on a revised version of the casino bill, known as a “committee substitute.” This amendment would set aside a large chunk of gaming tax revenue to provide for a new university endowment fund that Patrick has proposed and prioritized this session.
Specifically, the amendment would apply 80% of the tax revenue it generates to a proposed Texas University Fund. The Fund aims to assist Texas’ public universities become research powerhouses and increase their positions in national rankings.
This would be a boost to those universities that cannot access the multi-billion Permanent University Fund, which benefits only the University of Texas and Texas A&M University systems. If passed, the Fund would provide additional money for the University of Houston, Texas Tech University, Texas State University, and the University of North Texas.
Patrick may prove difficult to convince. Speaking on The Mark Davis Show on 660-AM last Tuesday, Patrick said the Senate has “zero support” for both legislative proposals.
“Our members have been clear: they’re not in support today,” Patrick said. “We don’t have any votes in the Senate. Couldn’t find one Senator who supported it.”
The two bills now move to the House Committee on Calendars, where they have the potential to go to the House floor.
