(INDIANAPOLIS) - Indiana lawmakers have added a voter input element to a bill that could relocate a southern Indiana casino to northeast Indiana.
House Bill 1038 cleared its second reading Thursday in the Indiana House, moving it closer to a final floor vote. The bill would allow a casino license currently based in Ohio County to move to Allen, DeKalb, Steuben or Wayne counties.
A newly approved amendment gives counties seeking the casino the option to place a public question on the 2026 general election ballot. The Indiana Gaming Commission could then consider whether voters were asked -- and how they voted -- when deciding where the casino license should go.
The proposal has expanded since its introduction. It originally named only Allen County as a possible destination, but lawmakers later added DeKalb, Steuben and Wayne counties through a committee amendment.
Other proposed changes, including adding more counties or requiring additional payments to the state, were rejected or not debated.
The bill, originally authored by Rep. Craig Snow, is no co-authored by Rep. Bradford Barrett (R), Rep. Tony Isa (R), and Rep. Philip GiaQuinta (D). The bill
now awaits a third reading in the House.
Any additional amendments at that stage would require a two-thirds vote.
If approved, the bill would move to the Indiana Senate.