With the Alabama legislature out until at least mid-April due to the coronavirus, the chances of passing a state lottery bill are zero to none. The legislative session began in February and typically lasts 105 days, placing the official end of the regular session on May 18 if lawmakers had remained in Montgomery.
State Rep. Steve Clouse’s lottery legislation would have allowed the sale of scratch-off instant tickets and multistate lottery games, but not video lottery terminals. Proceeds would have been divided between the state’s prekindergarten program and college scholarships. Seventy of the House’s 105 members had signed on as co-sponsors and polls indicated voters supported a lottery. Clouse had hoped to place the constitutional amendment on the November ballot.
Governor Kay Ivey had asked lawmakers to hold off on gambling debates until she received a report from a research task force she created. But Clouse said he introduced the bill to get the conversation started. Now, he said, “We must focus on the general and education budgets because they must be passed.”
A planning document issued by the Senate stated, “As leaders, it is imperative that we demonstrate that the business of this state carries on in an orderly and systematic fashion while adhering to the recommendations of our public health officials.” The document indicated Tuesday, April 28 “has been discussed with the House” as a potential return date. House Speaker Mac McCutcheon said officials we are monitoring the public health emergency to determine a return date. “We’re trying to see at what point in time the curve may flatten. All those things are under consideration,” he said.
The Senate planning document said legislators will focus on the budgets and “any other bills deemed necessary” upon returning.
