Tracking the Timeline of New Hampshire's Failed Casino Bill

The 400-member New Hampshire House of Representatives has never passed expanded gambling, and last week was no different after lawmakers voted Senate Bill 152 inexpedient to legislate.

But a long legislative fight kicked off way before the bill met its fate in the House Chamber.

We take a look at the lengthy timeline of SB 152, complete with our coverage. We start with House Bill 593, killed last year in Concord.

MARCH 28, 2012

The New Hampshire House fails to pass House Bill 593, which would have brought expanded gambling to the state. The bill is essentially dead after an amendment fails that would have fleshed out the bill with a total of four casinos.

Lawmakers hope for a veto-proof majority, as former Gov. John Lynch had said he would veto any expanded gambling legislation.

JULY 24, 2012

Gubernatorial candidate Maggie Hassan (D-NH) where she tells Salem residents that she supports one highly regulated casino in the state.

OCTOBER 26, 2012

Over 100 people attend a forum in Salem hosted by casino advocacy group NH Casino Now.

The forum detailed a two-year Rockingham Park construction timeline, job totals and potential crime.

A non-binding casino referendum is also acknowledged, which would ask voters on the March 2013 ballot whether they support a casino at Rockingham Park.

NOVEMBER 6, 2012

Maggie Hassan (D-NH) wins the race for New Hampshire governor over Republican candidate Ovide Lamontagne.

During her campaign, Hassan promised that she would support a single, highly regulated casino in the state.

Lamontagne campaigned specifically for Rockingham Park, saying that a casino should not just be anywhere in the state, while Hassan campaigned for an open bidding process.

Salem also elects nine Republicans to the House.

JANUARY 14, 2013

The idea of a Casino Advisory Committee in Salem first comes before the Board of Selectmen.

JANUARY 28, 2013

Salem Selectmen finalize the town's Casino Advisory Committee.

JANUARY 31, 2013

Senate Bill 152 is introduced and referred to Senate Ways and Means.

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

Millennium Gaming visits Rockingham Park for a forum, where they unveil their new plans for a casino at the facility.

FEBRUARY 14, 2013

A state budget delivered by Gov. Maggie Hassan bets on a casino. The numbers presented by the pro-casino governor incorporate $80 million of revenue from a casino licensing fee.

FEBRUARY 19, 2013

Five days after her budget address, Gov. Maggie Hassan takes to the floor of a Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing to once again back expanded gambling legislation. The hearing included testimony from all sides of the casino debate.

MARCH 5, 2013

The Senate Ways and Means Committee passes Senate Bill 152 by a 4-1 vote.

MARCH 12, 2013

A total of 81 percent of Salem voters embraces a casino at Rockingham Park, supporting a non-binding referendum during town meeting.

MARCH 14, 2013

Two days after Salem overwhelmingly backs a non-binding casino referendum, the state Senate passes SB 152 by a 16-8 vote.

APRIL 8, 2013

House Speaker Terie Norelli (D-Portsmouth) appoints a 45-member joint committee to work on SB 152.

APRIL 16, 2013

Over 70 people testify in the first hearing of the House Special Committee of Ways and Means and Finance.

MAY 8, 2013

Millennium Gaming returns to Rockingham Park, revealing a new casino plan. The new plan is up from the previous $450 million estimate, and is closer to $600 million.

MAY 15, 2013

Senate Bill 152 takes a big hit in the New Hampshire House as the Special Commitee formed to work on the bill votes 23-22 to recommend the bill "inexpedient to legislate."

The narrow vote came after what some committee members said was thousands of hours of work on the legislation. No amendments were voted on during the meeting, although 16 were presented before the ITL vote took place.

Proponents of expanded gambling remained optimistic, believing that the panel was stacked with opponents of a casino in the state.

MAY 22, 2013

Senate Bill 152 receives a final death blow as the House votes 199-164 to reject the legislation, upholding the committee recommendation of ITL.

A motion to reconsider the full House vote on May 22 was made by Rep. Gary Richardson (D-Hopkinton). That motion was squashed by a vote of 152 to 212.

Salem's nine representatives were split on the legislation. A total of five representatives voted against the ITL recommendation, three representatives voted in favor and one withheld.