Latest news with #SenateBill206
Business Wire
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
National Association for Veterans Rights Commends Alabama for Enacting SB 206 to Protect Veterans from Predatory Practices
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The National Association for Veterans Rights (NAVR) commends the State of Alabama today for its decisive action in enacting Senate Bill 206 (SB 206), a crucial new law establishing clear safeguards for Veterans seeking assistance with their federal disability benefits. Governor Kay Ivey officially signed the bill into law, reinforcing Alabama's commitment to protecting those who served. With the enactment of SB 206, Alabama joins a growing movement of states, including Louisiana, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and South Dakota, that have already passed similar legislation aimed at establishing transparency, accountability, and safeguards in the Veterans benefits process. 'This is another major step in the crusade to protect those who served,' said Peter O'Rourke, President of NAVR. 'By joining the ranks of other states that have taken bold action, Alabama is reinforcing a nationwide commitment to protecting Veterans from bad actors in the claims assistance space.' SB 206 establishes important guardrails that empower Veterans to make informed choices when seeking assistance with their benefits. NAVR has long championed state-level legislation that closes loopholes leaving Veterans vulnerable to exploitation. The passage of SB 206 in Alabama reflects a growing consensus that stronger consumer protections for Veterans are both necessary and overdue. 'This is about restoring trust and integrity in the system that serves our nation's heroes,' O'Rourke said. 'Governor Ivey's signature on SB 206 positions Alabama as a national leader in Veterans' protections, and reinforces a growing consensus that Veterans deserve choice, clarity, and confidence when seeking help with their earned benefits.' NAVR has led the charge nationwide to expose bad actors and support commonsense legislation that gives Veterans access to safe, qualified, and transparent services. About NAVR: The National Association for Veterans Rights (NAVR) is a national trade association committed to promoting ethical and transparent business practices among companies engaging with the service-disabled Veteran community. NAVR advocates for businesses that empower Veterans with professional and transparent solutions while advancing support for Veteran-owned businesses.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legislative panel supports higher age for lottery tickets, more video lottery machines per business
The South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) A South Dakota Senate committee advanced bills Thursday at the Capitol in Pierre to raise the age for buying a lottery ticket and increase the number of video lottery machines allowed per business, while defeating a bill to raise video lottery betting limits. The Senate Commerce and Energy Committee voted 5-3 to endorse Senate Bill 203 to raise the minimum age to purchase a lottery ticket from 18 to 21. That would align with other age restrictions for gaming, drinking and purchasing tobacco products, said Sen. Michael Rohl, R-Aberdeen. The South Dakota Lottery opposed the bill, adding that less than 1% of lottery ticket sales are from adults between 18 and 21 years old. But losing those sales would cost the state roughly $860,000 annually, based on last fiscal year's sales. Lawmakers on the committee also voted 5-3 to pass Senate Bill 205, which would raise the maximum number of video lottery machines at an establishment from 10 to 15 machines. They voted 5-3 to defeat Senate Bill 206, which would double betting limits for video lottery machines. The difference, said Sen. Steve Kolbeck, R-Brandon, is between regulation and expansion. Increasing the number of machines at an establishment could increase the number of machines throughout the state. But the focus is primarily to allow 'flexibility' for business owners with multiple locations to move their machines to where they're more successful, Kolbeck said. The state and business owners split income from the video lottery machines in half, but the business owners are responsible for machine upkeep, employing staff to monitor the machines, overhead expenses and more. 'This gives them leeway to make their margin in overhead,' Kolbeck said, 'not necessarily add more machines.' The legislation to increase betting limits is an expansion, Kolbeck later said in opposition to SB 206. Representatives of gaming businesses said the increase is an inflationary adjustment, since the state's maximum betting limit hasn't increased from $2 since 1989. But lawmakers weren't convinced. SB 203 and SB 205 will head to the Senate floor. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
