HB6 Alabama 2016 1st Special Session Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Craig Ford

Independent

Session

First Special Session 2016

Title

Lotteries, Legislature authorized to provide by general law, const. amend

Summary

A constitutional amendment to create an Alabama Lottery and Lottery Corporation, with proceeds used to fund scholarships for students at Alabama public colleges.

What This Bill Does

If approved, the bill would allow the state to establish, operate, and regulate a lottery by general law. Net lottery proceeds, after expenses and prizes, would be deposited into the Lottery Trust Fund to fund scholarships for Alabama students attending public two-year or four-year colleges in Alabama. The Legislature would implement the change through general laws and create the Alabama Lottery Corporation to run and regulate the lottery, potentially including agreements with other jurisdictions and only approving games the Corporation allows. The amendment would not affect existing legal activities, such as pari-mutuel betting or bingo, and would override conflicting laws where applicable.

Who It Affects

• Alabama students and their families wanting to attend public two-year or four-year colleges, who would receive scholarships funded by lottery proceeds.
• Alabama residents who participate in the lottery or are affected by its operation and regulation, including how proceeds are used to fund scholarships.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Alabama Lottery and an Alabama Lottery Corporation to operate and regulate it.
• Creates the Lottery Trust Fund in the State Treasury to hold net lottery proceeds after paying expenses and prizes.
• Allocates Lottery Trust Fund money exclusively to provide scholarships for up to two years for Alabama citizens at Alabama public two- or four-year colleges.
• Allows the Legislature to implement the amendment through general law and may authorize reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions; the Lottery may offer only games approved by the Corporation.
• States that pari-mutuel betting and bingo remain unaffected if they are legal under other laws.
• Provides that the amendment supersedes conflicting laws and requires voter approval to take effect.

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