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Senate committee rejects constitutional carry bill, approves clean lottery bill

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate Tourism Committee voted on two hot-button bills on Tuesday, with the voting margins as tight as possible.

The committee voted 6-5 to favorably recommend State Sen. Greg Albritton’s (R-Range) lottery bill as amended, but a motion to favorably recommend State Sen. Gerald Allen’s (R-Tuscaloosa) constitutional carry bill received a 5-6 vote, failing to advance the legislation.

Albritton’s SB 220 can now be debated and considered before the full Senate, which would happen as soon as Thursday of this week. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston), who also chairs the committee, said that he expects multiple amendments to be brought on the floor.

State Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) said he anticipates “vigorous debate” on the lottery bill.

Allen’s SB 4 failing to advance from the committee was a surprise to political observers at the state house. The bill received a public hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee last week but was moved to the Tourism Committee for consideration.

All Democrats on the committee voted against the constitutional carry bill, as did State Sens. David Sessions (R-Grand Bay) and Randy Price (R-Opelika).

Sessions also voted against the lottery bill, as did State Sen. Tim Melson (R-Florence). State Sen. Billy Beasley (D-Clayton) was the only Democrat to vote for SB 220.

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

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