MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – Lottery legislation is getting its first debate in the Alabama Legislature.
House and Senate committees on Wednesday are holding public hearings on bills to create a state lottery. The proposals by Republican Rep. Alan Harper and Sen. Jim McClendon would put the idea before voters in November.
Under the bills, most of the details, including how the proceeds would be used, would be decided later.
The hearings are expected to spark passionate testimony from both gambling opponents and those who say Alabama should consider gambling as a revenue source. Some opponents of the bill have criticized the lack of specifics.
Alabama is one of six states without a state lottery.
State voters in 1999 rejected a lottery proposed by then-Gov. Don Siegelman.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
