The weather is going to be getting warmer and motorcyclists will be out and one the big fundraisers in southern Illinois is poker runs.  They were in danger of being eliminated, but yesterday the Illinois House of Representative approved a change in Illinois law easing the worries of anyone concerned about the future of poker runs.  Last year, the “Poker Run Act”, was drafted because of concerns that poker runs were a type of illegal gambling.  The bill to legalize poker runs for charities and Not-For-Profit organizations was passed with overwhelming support and was signed into law in August, moving the fundraisers under the Illinois Charitable Games Act.  However, this permits cost $400 and any funds raised were to be taxed at 3%.  Many organizations felt that the combination of fees and taxes would bring an end to many Poker Run events.  State Representative Rich Brauer drafted a bill that would put poker runs under the jurisdiction of the county where they’re being held.  It provides for the regulation of poker runs as raffles rather than as charitable games events and the local government will handle the licensing.  The legislation now heads to the Senate for their consideration.