A handful of changed votes between House and Senate lawmakers have again put both bodies in contention after contradictory votes on proposed gambling legislation late Tuesday night.
The House and Senate voted on controversial gambling legislation on Tuesday evening after weeks of back-and-forth between the two bodies over the best way to implement the proposed comprehensive gambling package.
The House approved both substituted bills from the joint conference committee, where members from both bodies hammered out a potential compromise.
SEE: See how your representative voted: House concurs with substitute gambling legislation
House Bill 151 (HB151) will repeal all constitutional amendments allowing gambling in certain parts of the state and remove the state's constitutional gambling prohibition. The other, House Bill 152 (HB152), now authorizes provisions legalizing electronic gaming in specific locations, a statewide education lottery, and a PCI compact for an unspecified location. HB152 no longer contains casino gaming and sports betting from the original.
The Senate, however, missed the 21 needed votes to pass the constitutional amendment by one vote. The Senate voted to approve the conference committee report, which only requires majority approval. After realizing the Senate had insufficient votes to meet the 60% threshold needed for the amendment, members voted to carry the bill over, with a final vote possible any day.
SEE ALSO: Lottery, gambling constitutional amendment falls one vote short in Senate
The votes in both houses were relatively similar. However, some lawmakers’ votes changed between the first iteration of the bills and the version that emerged from the conference committee.
A complete list of the switched votes can be found below:
HB151 (Constitutional Amendment)
No to yes
State Rep. Russell Bedsole (R-Alabaster)
State Rep. Leigh Hulsey (R-Helena)
State Rep. Mike Shaw (R-Hoover)
State Rep. Jerry Starnes (R-Prattville)
Yes to no
State Rep. Alan Baker (R-Brewton)
State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore)
State Sen. Lance Bell (R-Pell City)
State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine)
Non-vote or abstention to yes
None.
Non-vote or abstention to no:
State Rep. Steve Hurst (R-Munford)
State Sen. Larry Stutts (R-Tuscumbia).
Non-vote or abstention to yes:
State Sen Merika Coleman (D-Birmingham)
Yes to non-vote or abstention
State Rep. Chris Sells (R-Greenville).
No to non-vote or abstention:
State Rep. Reed Ingram (R-Pike Road)
HB152 (Enabling Legislation)
No to yes
State Rep. Russell Bedsole (R-Alabaster)
State Rep. Craig Lipscomb (R-Gadsden)
State Rep. Mike Shaw (R-Hoover)
State Rep. Jerry Starnes (R-Prattville)
Yes to no
State Rep. Alan Baker (R-Brewton)
Non-vote or abstention to Yes:
State Rep. Mack Butler (R-Rainbow City)
State Rep. Ritchie Whorton (R-Madison)
Non-vote or abstention to no:
State Rep. Ron Bolton (R-Northport)
State Rep. Steve Hurst (R-Munford)
State Rep. Kerry Underwood (R-Tuscumbia)
Yes to non-vote or abstention:
State Rep. Berry Forte (D-Eufaula)
State Rep. Chris Pringle (R-Mobile)
No to non-vote or abstention:
State Rep. Reed Ingram (R-Pike Road)
State Rep. Shane Stringer (R-Citronelle)
Early Tuesday, State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) took to social media to explain his "no" vote.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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