HB 2078 Virginia House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Charitable gaming; certain common interest communities qualified to conduct bingo.

Summary
Charitable gaming; common interest communities; bingo. Allows common interest communities that serve residents age 55 or older to become a qualified organization for the purposes of conducting bingo in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The bill limits such bingo games to residents of the common interest community and for no more than seven days per calendar year and sets value limits for the award of bingo prize money or merchandise.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 7, 2025 Last action Feb 5, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced HGL Sub: ABC/Gaming Substitute · 9 edits
MAJOR
The bill was amended from its original introduced version to a substitute version that significantly narrows the scope of organizations eligible to conduct charitable gaming. The most important change is the removal of several organization types that were previously allowed to participate, including common interest communities, certain educational institutions, and organizations serving older Virginians, foster youth, and environmental conservation. The substitute version also reduces the number of sections being amended from five to three, removing provisions related to Texas Hold'em poker tournaments and electronic gaming permits.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed from five sections to three sections, and the definition of eligible organizations was significantly reduced by removing specific categories of nonprofits that were previously included.
ELIGIBILITY

Removed eligibility for common interest communities (55+ age communities), public and private higher education institutions, organizations serving older Virginians, foster youth amateur sports, health care research organizations, environmental conservation groups, and certain fraternal organizations.

Removed eligibility for organizations specifically established to support law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty.

Removed eligibility for organizations established before 1963 due to racial segregation laws (historical civil rights context).

Removed eligibility for organizations established before 1977 that raise funds for heart disease and cancer research.

Removed eligibility for local chambers of commerce.

Removed eligibility for common interest communities (55+ age communities) that were previously allowed to conduct bingo.

Removed eligibility for organizations that manage museums focused on the 1927 Bristol Sessions musical heritage.

SCOPE

Reduced the number of Code sections being amended from five (18.2-340.16, 18.2-340.23, 18.2-340.24, 18.2-340.27, and 18.2-340.33) to three (18.2-340.16, 18.2-340.23, and 18.2-340.33), removing provisions related to Texas Hold'em poker tournaments and bingo game conduct rules.

REMOVED

Removed eligibility for organizations established before 1963 due to racial segregation laws that were previously allowed to conduct charitable gaming.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Jan 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 17, 2025
Committee
Assigned GL sub: ABC/Gaming
lower
Jan 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Josh Thomas
Josh Thomas
DDemocratic
VA
21