HB 72

HLS 26RS-314  ORIGINAL
 2026 Regular Session
 HOUSE BILL NO. 72
 BY REPRESENTATIVE TRAVIS JOHNSON
 GAMING: Provides for parish elections to permit gaming
1AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 18:1300.27, relative to gaming; to allow parishes to call for a referendum
3election on certain types of gaming; to provide for election procedure; and to provide
4for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6Section 1. R.S. 18:1300.27 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7§1300.27. Gaming; local option election
8A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the governing
9authority of each parish in the state is hereby authorized to call and conduct an
10election on a proposition to allow the operation of any form of gaming previously
11approved by the legislature which was not allowed in that parish on January 1, 2026.
12B. The governing authority of each parish in this state may call, by ordinance
13or resolution, an election on the proposition of whether to allow any of the following
14forms of gaming, if that form of gaming was not allowed in that parish on January
151, 2026:
16(1) Riverboat gaming, as permitted by Chapter 4 of Title 27 of the Louisiana
17Revised Statutes of 1950.
18(2) Horse racing, as permitted by Chapter 4 of Title 4 of the Louisiana
19Revised Statutes of 1950.
  Page 1 of 3
 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
 are additions.
 HLS 26RS-314  ORIGINAL
  HB NO. 72
1(3) Video draw poker, as permitted by Chapter 8 of Title 27 of the Louisiana
2Revised Statutes of 1950.
3(4) Sports wagering, as permitted by Chapter 10 of Title 27 of the Louisiana
4Revised Statutes of 1950.
5C. A governing authority of a parish that calls, by ordinance or resolution,
6a proposition election pursuant to this Section shall provide for a separate
7proposition on the ballot for each form of gaming so that electors may vote for or
8against each form of gaming that appears on the ballot.
9D. For each form of gaming that appears on the ballot, if a majority of
10electors voting in the election vote in favor of that form of gaming, then that form
11of gaming shall be allowed within that parish.
12E. For each form of gaming that appears on the ballot, if a majority of
13electors voting in the election vote not in favor of that form of gaming, then that
14form of gaming shall not be allowed within that parish.
15F. A governing authority that calls an election pursuant to this Section shall
16not include on the ballot any form of gaming which was allowed in that parish on
17January 1, 2026.
18G. Elections called pursuant to this Section shall be held in compliance with
19the Louisiana Election Code provisions governing proposition elections.
20H. The costs of the election shall be paid by the governing authority that
21calls the election.
  DIGEST
 The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
 of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
 part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
 HB 72 Original  2026 Regular Session  Travis Johnson
 Abstract: Provides for parish elections to allow certain types of gaming.
 Present law provides that certain forms of gaming are permitted by state law and may be
 conducted in a parish pursuant to a parish election to approve that form of gaming.
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 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
 are additions.
HLS 26RS-314  ORIGINAL
  HB NO. 72
Proposed law retains present law and permits parishes to hold new elections on whether to
permit certain types of gaming within the parish, if such gaming was not allowed in the
respective parish on Jan. 1, 2026.
Proposed law provides that the cost of the election shall be paid by the governing authority
that calls the election.
(Adds R.S. 18:1300.27)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.