HB396
Charitable gaming; definitions, Texas Hold'em poker tournaments, minimum age to participate.
Status:
In Senate
Latest Action:
Jan. 29, 2026
Senate: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
Chief Patron:
Paul Krizek (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Introduced. Charitable gaming; Texas Hold'em poker tournaments.
Increases from 18 years of age to 21 years of age the minimum age an individual must be to participate in Texas Hold'em poker tournaments. The bill provides that no qualified organization may conduct Texas Hold'em poker tournaments (i) at a location outside of the county, city, or town in ... (More) which its principal office, as registered with the State Corporation Commission, is located or in an adjoining county, city, or town or (ii) at an establishment that has been granted a retail alcoholic beverage control license unless such license is held by the qualified organization. The bill also allows unlimited rebuys during the first two hours of tournament play or until the first break, whichever occurs first, and permits one add-on at the end of the rebuy period before play resumes at the end of the first break. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/12/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100031D
- 01/12/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on General Laws
- 01/19/2026 - House: Assigned HGL sub: ABC/Gaming
- 01/19/2026 - House: Placed on General Laws Agenda
- 01/20/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 1-N)
- 01/21/2026 - House: Placed on General Laws Agenda
- 01/22/2026 - House: Reported from General Laws with substitute (20-Y 1-N)
- 01/22/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26105786D-H1
- 01/26/2026 - House: Read first time
- 01/26/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB396)
- 01/27/2026 - House: Read second time
- 01/27/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 01/27/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute
- 01/28/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (88-Y 8-N 0-A)
- 01/29/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 01/29/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
