In Illinois, House Bill 4305, which would provide .9 billion for lottery winners and local governments from already collected motor fuel taxes, overwhelmingly passed with 115 yes votes. However, leading Democratic state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie filed a motion to reconsider, meaning the Senate will not get the bill–yet. If and when it does, three days of readings will be required before a final vote. However, the Senate may not meet again until next year.
Last August, the Illinois Lottery announced it would not pay prizes of $25,000 or more until lawmakers passed a state budget. In October, the lottery lowered the threshold of non-payment to $600 or more. Since then, as indicated by data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, ticket sales dropped to $26 million, the lowest level in nearly two years.
Governor Bruce Rauner and Republican lawmakers supported the bill although it was not amended as requested to include extra funding for veterans homes and Civic Center bonds.
