Monitoring the Session

SB 28

bill banning lottery tickets by phone or app

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Bob HallRSenate 2

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to a lottery game played or facilitated for play by telephone or through an Internet or mobile Internet application; creating criminal offenses.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

No buying, ordering or arranging Texas lottery tickets online for pay.

The bill bans buying or ordering a Texas lottery ticket by phone or through a website or app, and bans anyone from taking orders, selling tickets, or arranging ticket purchases for players that way for pay. It touches lottery players who buy remotely and the courier businesses that buy tickets on players' behalf, and it orders the lottery commission to write rules to enforce the ban. Starting September 1, 2025, a player who buys this way commits a Class C misdemeanor offense, and a person who does it for pay commits a Class A misdemeanor offense.

Labels

Labels: CREATES AN OFFENSE. The caption of the graded version (introduced) reads: “relating to a lottery game played or facilitated for play by telephone or through an Internet or mobile Internet application; creating criminal offenses.”ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 16 Republicans, 3 Democrats. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.GOT HALFWAY. Passed the Senate on Feb 27, 2025. Died in the House: left pending in the Licensing & Administrative Procedures committee.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB28 · 2025-02-20

SOLD BY

Sen. Bob HallRSenate 2 Sen. Carol AlvaradoDSenate 6 Sen. Paul BettencourtRSenate 7

+ 16 more authors, 11 coauthors

ITEM

relating to a lottery game played or facilitated for play by telephone or through an Internet or mobile Internet application; creating criminal offenses.

WHAT IT DOES

No buying, ordering or arranging Texas lottery tickets online for pay.

The bill bans buying or ordering a Texas lottery ticket by phone or through a website or app, and bans anyone from taking orders, selling tickets, or arranging ticket purchases for players that way for pay. It touches lottery players who buy remotely and the courier businesses that buy tickets on players' behalf, and it orders the lottery commission to write rules to enforce the ban. Starting September 1, 2025, a player who buys this way commits a Class C misdemeanor offense, and a person who does it for pay commits a Class A misdemeanor offense.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($26,230,000)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version E · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 5, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB28, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($52,460,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. Additionally, the bill would have a positive, but indeterminate fiscal impact to the state due to increases in court cost revenue associated with an increase in the number of misdemeanors from new offenses created by the bill; however, the number of additional misdemeanors cannot be estimated. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($26,230,000)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to State Affairs
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. Vote taken in committee
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  10. Committee report printed and distributed
  11. Co-author authorized
  12. Placed on intent calendar
  13. Co-author authorized
  14. Rules suspended-Constitutional 60-Day
  15. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  16. Read 2nd time
  17. Amendment(s) offered FA1 Gutierrez
  18. Amendment fails of adoption
  19. Record vote
  20. Passed to engrossment
  21. Vote recorded in Journal
  22. Three day rule suspended
  23. Record vote
  24. Read 3rd time
  25. Passed
  26. Record vote
  27. Reported engrossed
  28. Received from the Senate
  29. Read first time
  30. Referred to Licensing & Administrative Procedures
  31. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  32. Considered in public hearing
  33. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  34. Left pending in committee
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

Senate: Final passage · Feb 27, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Bob Hall

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$135KTexans United for a Conservative Majority PAC$116KBryan Hughes Campaign$100K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$135,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$135,000.00

Cash
$129,000.00
Paid by others
$6,000.00
Total
$135,000.00
polling $6,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 12, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100987789, 101010195, 101040645, 101069307, 101073278.

Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC$116,000.00

Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC

$116,000.00

Cash
$110,000.00
Paid by others
$6,000.00
Total
$116,000.00
polling $6,000.00

Also funds 30 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101010195, 101033131, 101073278.

Bryan Hughes Campaign$100,000.00

Bryan Hughes Campaign

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101073278.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$135,000.00

Cash
$129,000.00
Paid by others
$6,000.00
Total
$135,000.00
polling $6,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 12, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100987789, 101010195, 101040645, 101069307, 101073278.

×

Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC

$116,000.00

Cash
$110,000.00
Paid by others
$6,000.00
Total
$116,000.00
polling $6,000.00

Also funds 30 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101010195, 101033131, 101073278.

×

Bryan Hughes Campaign

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101073278.

Votes4

Senate Feb 27, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Hall moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 28 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Feb 27, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Hall moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 28 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Feb 27, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

SB 28 was passed to engrossment by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Feb 27, 2025

Yea
11
Nay
20
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The amendment to SB 28 was read and failed of adoption by the following vote: Yeas 11, Nays 20.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 11 (published)
  • Nay: 20 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses28
For
15
Against
5
On
8
Names

For

  • Baptist General Convention of Texas Christian Life Commission1 registration
  • Christian Life Commission of Baptist General Convention of Texas1 registration
  • Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas1 registration
  • RaceTrac, Inc.1 registration
  • Self5 registrations
  • Self; Texans for Fiscal Responsibility1 registration
  • Self; Texas Eagle Forum1 registration
  • Self; Texas Values Action1 registration
  • Texas Food & Fuel Association2 registrations
  • Texas Values Action1 registration

Against

  • Jackpocket2 registrations
  • Jackpot.com1 registration
  • Lottery.com1 registration
  • Lotto.com1 registration

On

  • IGT2 registrations
  • Self; Client1 registration
  • Texas Lottery Commission4 registrations
  • Texas lottery commission1 registration
Sources

28 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal
Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($26,230,000)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version E · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 5, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB28, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($52,460,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. Additionally, the bill would have a positive, but indeterminate fiscal impact to the state due to increases in court cost revenue associated with an increase in the number of misdemeanors from new offenses created by the bill; however, the number of additional misdemeanors cannot be estimated. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($26,230,000)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Feb 20, 2025

05/06/2025 H Left pending in committee

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
César BlancoDSenate 29 Roland GutierrezDSenate 19 Juan "Chuy" HinojosaDSenate 20 Bryan HughesRSenate 1 Nathan JohnsonDSenate 16 José MenéndezDSenate 26 Borris MilesDSenate 13 Robert NicholsRSenate 3 Tan ParkerRSenate 12 Charles SchwertnerRSenate 5 Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21

House committee · Licensing & Administrative Procedures · Final status: Died in committee

Senate committee · State Affairs · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Companion

HB 389 by Shaheen (identical)

SB 79 by Hall (duplicate)

Subjects

Amusements, Games, Sports

Crimes--Miscellaneous

EMAIL & ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

INTERNET

LOTTERIES

TELEPHONES & TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES

LOTTERY COMMISSION, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 344 words

89R4161 BEE-D

By: Hall, et al.
S.B. No. 28

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a lottery game played or facilitated for play by

telephone or through an Internet or mobile Internet application;

creating criminal offenses.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 466.015(b), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(b) The commission shall adopt rules to the extent they are

not inconsistent with Chapters 551 and 552 governing the:

(1) security for the lottery and the commission,

including the development of an internal security plan;

(2) apportionment of the total revenues from the sale

of tickets and from all other sources in the amounts provided by

this chapter;

(3) enforcement of prohibitions on the sale of tickets

to or by an individual younger than 18 years of age; and

(4) enforcement of prohibitions on a person playing or

facilitating the play of a lottery game by telephone or through an

Internet application or mobile Internet application in violation of

Section 466.318 .

SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Chapter 466, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 466.318 to read as follows:

Sec. 466.318. PLAY OR FACILITATING PLAY BY TELEPHONE OR BY

INTERNET OR MOBILE INTERNET APPLICATION. (a) A person may not by

telephone or through an Internet application or mobile Internet

application:

(1) purchase or order the purchase of a ticket for a

lottery game; or

(2) for compensation:

(A) accept an order for a ticket for a lottery

game from a player;

(B) sell a ticket for a lottery game to a player;

or

(C) arrange:

(i) to purchase a ticket on behalf of a

person playing a lottery game; or

(ii) for another person to purchase a

ticket on behalf of a person playing a lottery game.

(b) A person commits an offense if the person violates this

section.

(c) An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a Class C

misdemeanor.

(d) An offense under Subsection (a)(2) is a Class A

misdemeanor.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.