HB472 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Craig Ford

Independent

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Education lottery, Education Lottery Corporation, and Lottery Trust Fund, estab., distrib. of revenues for college scholarships and other ed. purposes, operation of casinos prohib., Sec. 65, Constitution of Alabama of 1901 am'd., const. amend.

Summary

HB472 would amend Alabama's Constitution to create a state lottery funded by proceeds that support college scholarships and ban casinos.

What This Bill Does

It would establish an Alabama Lottery and an Alabama Lottery Corporation to run and regulate it. Net lottery proceeds would first cover administration and prizes, with any remaining money deposited into the new Lottery Trust Fund and used to fund scholarships for Alabama students who are A/B Honor Roll to attend Alabama colleges or universities. The Legislature would pass general laws to implement the plan, including how scholarships are awarded and how the Fund is managed. It would prohibit the operation of casinos in the state, while allowing existing forms of gambling and tribal gaming to continue under current laws and federal rules in certain licensed settings.

Who It Affects

• Alabama residents who are A/B Honor Roll students would be eligible for scholarships to attend Alabama colleges and universities.
• Casinos and casino operators in Alabama would be prohibited from operating gambling establishments; some existing forms of gambling and tribal gaming may continue under current law and federal rules.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Alabama Lottery by general law and creates the Alabama Lottery Corporation to govern and regulate it.
• Creates the Lottery Trust Fund to hold net lottery proceeds after expenses and prizes, dedicated to scholarships for Alabama students attending Alabama colleges.
• Allocates funds from the Lottery Trust Fund exclusively to scholarships for Alabama citizens who are A/B Honor Roll to attend Alabama colleges and institutions (universities, colleges, junior/technical/community).
• Allows the Alabama Lottery Corporation to enter reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions for operation and promotion of permitted games.
• Prohibits casino operation and casino gambling in Alabama; the lottery may only conduct approved games including lottery tickets.
• Authorizes enabling legislation for implementation and validates actions taken during the same legislative session.
• Preserves existing legality of pari-mutuel betting and nonprofit bingo; allows tribal gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in certain licensed locations.
• The terms of the amendment take precedence over conflicting laws and the Legislature may enact laws to implement it.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments