summary
Introduced
10/15/2025
10/15/2025
In Committee
11/03/2025
11/03/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
03/13/2026
03/13/2026
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to gaming; amending s. 546.10, F.S.; requiring certain organizations, before purchasing, installing, or operating a game or machine on their premises, or that already have a game or machine installed on their premises, and are in doubt about whether such game or machine meets the definition of an amusement game or machine, to petition the Florida Gaming Control Commission for a declaratory statement on whether the operation of such game or machine is authorized or prohibited; prohibiting such organizations from purchasing or installing a game or machine until such declaratory statement is issued; prohibiting such organizations from petitioning the commission if the game, machine, premises, or organization in question is the subject of a criminal investigation; requiring the commission to issue a declaratory statement within a specified timeframe; prohibiting the commission from denying a petition if it was validly requested; specifying the information that must be included in a petition; providing that the declaratory statement is valid only for the game or machine for which it is requested and is invalid if the specifications for the game or machine have been changed; providing that the declaratory statement is binding on the commission and may be introduced as evidence in subsequent proceedings; providing construction; amending s. 849.15, F.S.; defining terms; providing criminal penalties for specified offenses relating to the manufacture, possession, and sale of slot machines or devices; providing that shipments of legal gaming devices to Indian lands are deemed legal shipments under certain circumstances; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill requires certain veterans' service organizations that have been issued a federal charter and an alcoholic beverage license to petition the Florida Gaming Control Commission for a "declaratory statement" before purchasing or operating a game or machine if they are unsure whether it qualifies as an "amusement game or machine" under state law, and prohibits them from acquiring or using such a game or machine until the commission issues this statement, which must be done within 60 days and is binding on the commission unless the game's specifications change; this petition process is not allowed if the game, premises, or organization is under criminal investigation. Additionally, the bill amends existing law to define terms like "ownership interest" and "person of authority" and establishes criminal penalties for manufacturing, possessing, or selling slot machines or similar devices, with penalties escalating based on the number of machines involved and prior convictions, while also clarifying that shipments of legal gaming devices to certain Indian lands held in federal trust are considered legal.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (1)
Other Sponsors (1)
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government (Senate)
Last Action
Died in Rules (on 03/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/204 |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/204/BillText/c1/HTML |
| Analysis - Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/204/Analyses/2026s00204.aeg.PDF |
| Analysis - Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government (Pre-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/204/Analyses/2026s00204.pre.aeg.PDF |
| https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/204/Amendment/364546/HTML | |
| Analysis - Regulated Industries (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/204/Analyses/2026s00204.ri.PDF |
| Analysis - Regulated Industries (Pre-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/204/Analyses/2026s00204.pre.ri.PDF |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/204/BillText/Filed/HTML |
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