A RESOLUTION to approve annual events by certain 501(c) organizations in accordance with the provisions of Article XI, Section 5 of the Constitution of Tennessee, and pursuant to the Tennessee Nonprofit Gaming Law.
House Resolution 73 is an annual approval resolution for nonprofit gaming events in Tennessee. It authorizes a long list of specific fundraising events for 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(19) organizations across the state for the period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. The approved events include raffles, reverse raffles, bingo games, duck races, golf ball drops, auctions, and similar charitable gaming activities, each tied to a named organization, location, and event date.
The resolution operates under Article XI, Section 5 of the Tennessee Constitution and the Tennessee Nonprofit Gaming Law, which require legislative approval for qualifying annual events conducted for eligible nonprofit organizations. Rather than creating a new regulatory scheme, the measure functions as a statewide authorization list that allows the named organizations to conduct their planned gaming-based fundraisers during the covered year.
HR0073 affects Tennessee nonprofit gaming law by granting the required legislative approval for designated annual charitable gaming events. It does not amend the underlying constitutional or statutory framework, but it is necessary for the listed 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(19) organizations to lawfully conduct raffles, bingo, reverse raffles, and related fundraising activities during the specified period. The practical effect is to permit charitable fundraising across many counties and organizations, including schools, churches, rescue squads, foundations, civic clubs, and health-related charities.
The available voting history suggests broad support for the resolution. The House adopted the motion by an 83-7 vote, indicating strong overall approval with only limited opposition. Because there are no committee transcripts provided, the record does not show detailed debate, but the vote margin suggests the measure was generally viewed as routine and noncontroversial, consistent with annual approval resolutions for nonprofit gaming events.
The main point of contention, where present, is the use of charitable gaming itself—especially raffles, bingo, reverse raffles, and similar games—as a fundraising mechanism. Any opposition would likely stem from concerns about gambling, oversight, or the appropriateness of legislative approval for these activities, though the provided record does not identify specific arguments or speakers. The resolution also requires the General Assembly to approve a large number of individual events, which can draw procedural scrutiny, but the strong vote indicates no major dispute in this instance.