AUSTIN, Texas–A Texas legislator is back taking a second swing at getting a bill signed by the governor that would allow for savings promotion raffles.
In 2015, Rep. Eric Johnson (D-Dallas) successfully passed a bill that would have allowed credit unions and other financial institutions to conduct savings promotion raffles, according to the Texas Credit Union Association, which lobbied in favor of the legislation. The bill was vetoed by Gov. Abbott who believed that the bill would violate the Texas Constitution, which generally prohibits raffles and other types of gambling.
The Cornerstone CU League said that Rep. Johnson has filed two related bills as part of the pre-filing phase of the 2017 Texas legislative session:
- HB 471, which amends the statutory references to permit savings promotion raffles, and
- HJR 37, which similarly amends the constitution.
“The legislature will have to pass both the bill and the joint resolution amending the Constitution for the proposal to become law,” said the Cornerstone CU League. “After that, the constitutional change will go to the Texas voters for approval in November.”
Prize-linked raffles have been successful in numerous other states with credit unions actively participating.