SB220 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg AlbrittonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Alabama Lottery estab., Alabama General Fund Lottery, participation in multi-state lottery games only, constitutional amendment

Summary

SB 220 would amend the Alabama Constitution to create a statewide Alabama Lottery with ticket sales and a defined method for distributing lottery proceeds, to be implemented by general laws.

What This Bill Does

It proposes establishing an Alabama Lottery statewide, run under general laws, allowing sale of paper tickets (including instant tickets) and electronic tickets for non-instant games tied to intrastate and multi-state lottery games, while prohibiting video lottery and similar interactive casino-style games. Proceeds would first cover lottery administration and prizes; after repaying certain transfers to the State General Fund from 2013-2015, remaining proceeds would be split between the State General Fund and the General Fund Budget Reserve Fund (until the reserve reaches 10% of General Fund appropriations), then moved to the Lottery Trust Fund to assist transitioning to recurring revenue budgeting, and finally to the Alabama Trust Fund once the Lottery Trust Fund reaches 10% of General Fund appropriations. The Legislature would pass general laws to regulate the lottery, and activities legal before the amendment would be unaffected.

Who It Affects

• Alabama residents and consumers who would be able to participate in a statewide lottery by purchasing tickets (paper, instant, and certain electronic non-instant formats) under state regulation.
• State finances and taxpayers, through the proposed flow of lottery proceeds: funds would be allocated first to administration/prizes, then to repay past transfers to the General Fund, and thereafter to the General Fund, Budget Reserve Fund, Lottery Trust Fund, and Alabama Trust Fund according to specified thresholds.
• Retailers and operators who sell lottery tickets would participate in the new system and be subject to regulation by the Legislature through general laws.

Key Provisions

• Proposes a constitutional amendment to Section 65 to establish an Alabama Lottery and authorize sale of tickets (paper tickets including instant tickets and electronic/non-instant tickets for certain games), with proceeds distributed under the amendment and implemented by general laws.
• Requires the Legislature to establish, administer, operate, and regulate the Alabama Lottery by general law; restricts ticket formats to paper tickets for intrastate/multi-state games and electronic tickets for non-instant games; bans video lottery terminals and other interactive casino-style games.
• Specifies the proceeds flow: annual receipts first cover lottery administration and prizes; remaining proceeds repay prior transfers to the State General Fund from 2013-2015 (via the Alabama Trust Fund); after full repayment, remaining proceeds are distributed with half to the State General Fund and half to the General Fund Budget Reserve Fund (until 10% of General Fund appropriations); further funds go to the Lottery Trust Fund until transitioning to recurring revenue budgeting, and then to the Alabama Trust Fund once the Lottery Trust Fund reaches 10% of General Fund appropriations.
• Defines terms like 'instant tickets' and 'video lottery' to clarify what is allowed and disallowed; requires additional legislation to regulate the lottery's control, management, and operation.
• Contains clarifications that nothing in the amendment affects activities legal before its effective date, and includes provisions about exempt activities (pari-mutuel betting, charity bingo) and references to existing constitutional amendments and laws.
• Calls for an election to approve the proposed amendment on March 3, 2020.

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