HB651 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Craig Ford

Independent

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Lottery, Education Alabama 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

This bill would amend the Alabama Constitution to create a state lottery, a governing Alabama Lottery Corporation, and a Lottery Trust Fund, with proceeds split between scholarships for Alabama students and the state General Fund.

What This Bill Does

It would authorize the establishment and regulation of the Alabama Lottery under a new Alabama Lottery Corporation. Net lottery proceeds would first cover admin costs and prizes, with the remaining funds deposited into the Lottery Trust Fund, then split 50/50 between scholarships for Alabama students (A/B Honor Roll) to attend Alabama colleges and the state General Fund. The Legislature would pass general laws to run the lottery and define the corporation's powers, and the lottery could enter reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions; only games approved by the Corporation would be conducted.

Who It Affects

• Alabama students who are A/B Honor Roll and want to attend colleges, universities, technical, or community colleges in Alabama; they would be eligible for scholarships funded by lottery proceeds.
• The state budget and public programs funded by the General Fund, which would receive half of the lottery proceeds through the Lottery Trust Fund.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 65 of the Alabama Constitution to establish the Alabama Lottery, the Alabama Lottery Corporation, and the Lottery Trust Fund.
• Proceeds are used first to pay lottery administration and prizes; the balance is deposited into the Lottery Trust Fund until disbursed by the amendment.
• Fifty percent of monies in the Lottery Trust Fund are allocated for scholarships for Alabama citizens (A/B Honor Roll) to attend Alabama universities, colleges, and technical/community colleges; fifty percent go to the state General Fund.
• The Legislature must enact general laws to administer, operate, and regulate the Alabama Lottery and define the duties and powers of the Alabama Lottery Corporation.
• The Alabama Lottery Corporation may enter reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions for operation and promotion of allowed games; only games approved by the Corporation may be conducted.
• An election is required to approve the constitutional amendment, with the ballot language described in the bill.

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