MONTGOMERY — The Alabama legislature will wrap up what has already been a busy week on Thursday, with the day’s schedule to begin with two different lottery proposals getting a hearing before the Senate Tourism Committee at 8:30 a.m.
Public hearings are set for Sen. Jim McClendon’s (R-Springville) SB 116 and SB 130 and Sen. Greg Albritton’s (R-Range) SB 220 during that committee meeting. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston), who chairs the tourism committee, told reporters on Wednesday that the committee will not vote on either lottery proposal during Thursday’s meeting.
Marsh called Albritton’s SB 220 “the most straight, simple lottery bill there is.”
“And if that’s the case, I think that’s the one that has the best chance to get out of the legislature,” he added.
Marsh advised that he has promised McClendon that both proposals will be heard, discussed and ultimately voted on by the committee.
“We’ll see what comes out of committee, we’ll see what makes it to the floor, but I think the more simple bill that’s a straight lottery has the best chance,” Marsh concluded.
McClendon’s legislation has been criticized as not being a “clean” lottery proposal, as it would legalize video lottery terminals (essentially slot machines) exclusively “at the four existing racetracks located in Jefferson, Mobile, Macon, and Greene counties, and one location in Lowndes county” that are currently licensed to conduct pari-mutuel wagering.
You can listen to the Senate Tourism Committee meeting live here.
Both the House and Senate gavel in at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday.
This comes after Wednesday’s legislative day saw 78 pieces of legislation advanced out of committee, including HB 41 (as substituted and then amended) and HB 289. The General Fund Budget, HB 152, was given a favorable report as substituted by the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee.
SB 1, McClendon’s “hands free driving” bill, failed to get out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday by a 3-9 vote.
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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