Casino incentives pass the House

The House of Representatives has agreed this morning to a bill that would give incentives to casinos that invest in non-gambling attractions.

House Bill 1196, sponsored by Rep. Diane Peranich, D-Pass Christian, passed in a 79-40 vote, but it still must clear the Senate, which has killed attempts to extend the benefits to casinos in previous legislative sessions.

The bill covers theme parks, water parks, cultural or historical centers, motor speedways or other large tourist attractions. It would allow a casino to recoup up to 30 percent of the project's value over a 10-year period, by giving it access to a percentage of the sales tax the project creates.

Coast legislators said the incentives would likely bring much investment on attractions in the state from casino groups. Other businesses are allowed the incentives now.

“This infusion of capital is needed to jumpstart the economy in this state,” Peranich said.

House Bill 1196, is the only remaining major piece of legislation for South Mississippi. The casino incentives bill is part of a deal that would prevent casinos from expanding to counties where they aren't presently operating, with a few exceptions, through Senate Bill 2199, which was voted down in the Senate Wednesday, but kept alive through complicated procedural maneuvers. Senate Bill 2199 has not been addressed yet today.

There's been a lot of haggling going on over the two bills these last few days.