HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHP) — Pennsylvania State Representative Russ Diamond introduced House Bills 2801 and 2802 on Thursday to regulate skill games within weeks of the deadline to remove skill games from businesses across the state.

Diamond, Republican chairman of the House Gaming Oversight Committee, said these bills will offer a clear path forward before the Oct. 13 deadline set by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

“My legislation provides the best chance of modernizing Pennsylvania’s gaming law and bringing skill games into a regulated framework before the Oct. 13 deadline set by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court,” Diamond said.

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He said that these bills are a result of 18 months of work and discussions among stakeholders in the legal gaming industry, purveyors of skill games, regulators and the general public.

Under Dimond’s proposal, skill games would be regulated and taxed at a rate of 20%. In addition, only five machines are permitted in clubs, liquor-licensed restaurants and bars, and qualified truck stops.

The resolution would reduce taxes for casino-based slot machines to 49.9%, establishing the same rate for all online casino games.

Diamond emphasized that the legislation would recognize the important role Pennsylvania’s clubs and licensed establishments would continue to play, according to the press release.

“Pennsylvania’s clubs have supported our communities, created jobs and provided places for people to gather for generations,” Diamond said.

Diamond’s plan would reportedly deliver relief through a direct annual gaming dividend payment to Pennsylvania’s 2.87 million qualified homeowners.

“Even without presuming any growth in existing legal gaming over the next fiscal year, or the addition of revenue from skill games, every qualified homeowner in Pennsylvania would receive a gaming dividend payment of at least $702 annually,” according to the press release.

For residents who have currently received homestead or farmstead relief, the proposition would create an annual increase of $459 to $602, depending on the school district they reside in. Throughout Pennsylvania, 96% of homeowners would allegedly experience greater property tax relief.

“I hear almost every day from constituents lamenting they haven’t seen the property tax relief promised by politicians more than 20 years ago. These bills aim to maximize that relief and deliver it directly into their hands,” Diamond said.