SF2289: DIA and Licensing

Removes the cap on reimbursable expenses for Racing and Gaming Commission members, grants explicit authority to issue cease and desist orders and seek injunctive relief for unlicensed gambling activities, expands lifetime bans to cover more types of wagering, updates state building code consultation requirements and fee destinations, and allows specialized pediatric palliative residential care facilities to serve any number of individuals, including zero. Effective 7/1/2026.

Key Points & Impact:

• Eliminates the $30,000 annual cap on total expense reimbursements for Racing and Gaming Commission members, allowing actual expenses to be reimbursed without a set ceiling.

• Grants the Racing and Gaming Commission explicit authority to issue cease and desist orders and seek injunctive relief against unlicensed pari-mutuel wagering, advance deposit wagering, internet fantasy sports, games of chance, gambling, sports wagering, and illegal sweepstakes operators.

• Expands the scope of lifetime bans for certain gambling offenses to include sports wagering and advance deposit sports wagering, in addition to existing gaming venues.

• Specifies that two convictions for unlawful betting now result in a lifetime ban from sports wagering and advance deposit sports wagering, not just physical gambling locations.

• Requires the state building code commissioner to consult with the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (instead of the Department of Public Defense) regarding safe rooms and storm shelter standards.

• Redirects all fees collected by the state building code commissioner to the licensing and regulation fund, rather than the state general fund.

• Allows pediatric palliative care residential care facilities that only provide respite and hospice services to serve any number of individuals, including zero, rather than being subject to a minimum threshold.

• Exempts such residential care facilities from certain regulatory requirements (Section 135.62).