The Alabama senator carrying two House-passed gambling bills said Monday he does not expect a committee vote on the measures this week.
Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, who has sponsored several gambling bills in the past, said in a phone interview that the majority Republican body needed to look over the legislation.
“We got to do some caucus work before we take it to committee,” he said.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
The two bills – one a constitutional amendment; one enabling legislation; both sponsored by Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Smiths Station – passed the House of Representatives last week.
The legislation, if approved by the Senate and state voters, would create a state lottery and authorize seven casinos around Alabama, most in places that already have some form of historic gambling. The bill would also authorize sports wagering and direct Gov. Kay Ivey to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, who operate casinos in Atmore, Montgomery and Wetumpka.
Lottery proceeds would go into an account that could be used to fund education programs, such as postsecondary scholarships and dual enrollment programs. Casino and sports wagering revenue could be used for anything; the bill suggests mental health services and a “rural health” program that resembles Medicaid expansion. The Legislature would have wide latitude in appropriating the money.
Blackshear told a House committee last week that the bill could bring between $936 million and $1.2 billion to the state.
The House approval was notable. In recent years, most gambling bills have started in the Senate. Those that passed the Senate generally died amid divisions among House Republicans.
Harrison Adams, spokesperson for Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed, R-Jasper, wrote Monday that Reed’s “priority for timeline for any legislation including the gambling bill is to ensure that all members of the Senate have the time and opportunity to study the legislation.”
Albritton said he had heard of concerns over the casinos and a voting date on the constitutional amendment, but was not sure of the full scope on discussion.
“You’ll have to ask opponents and proponents of said issue,” said Albritton about casinos. “I don’t know. We’ve got casinos now, and they’re continued to increase. All we’re trying to do with the bill is decrease them. So I don’t know if they want more or not. I can’t figure it out.”
The vote would take place on the November election date.
“So that means if it doesn’t pass, there’s got to be two or three folks that changing their mind, which they’re going to have to explain,” he said due to the bill’s similarity to previous forms of legislation.
Albritton said that he thinks the bill in its current form would pass, but he said the vote would be “very, very close.”
“It’ll depend on several factors that I’m trying to get a handle on,” he said.
Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, initially had concerns with a comprehensive gambling bill filed by then-Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston in 2021. The bill as filed excluded Houston County, which he represents, though later versions put a property in the county in.
Chesteen said Monday that he was still working through the legislation (“It’s quite a lengthy bill, as you know”) and would have more thoughts by Wednesday, but he supported what he saw so far. Houston County is one of the counties that is allowed to have casinos.
Chesteen said he thinks the Republican caucus is split at the moment, but added that they did not have any serious discussions before it came to them.
“I’m sure we’ll have some lengthy conversations, as I said earlier, on a couple of days ahead,” he said.
The bill contains provisions that authorize casinos in Macon County, Greene County, Houston County, Lowndes County, Mobile and Birmingham.
Chesteen said that it was important for his constituents to have access because they already have a casino.
“I think it’s a good site for southeast Alabama if it’s, you know, if it passes,” he said.
Chesteen also said he liked the fact the issue would be decided by popular vote.
“It’s been 25 years since this issue has been decided by the people, and we keep on kicking the can down the road, as they say, year after year talking about it, but the bill came out of the House and so I think we’ll have some interesting discussions this week in the Senate and see where we are with it,” he said.
