Despite another round of stories over the weekend about a possible push in the last half of the 2025 session, it’s still unknown if there’s support to pass lottery and gambling legislation in the Senate.
A gambling and lottery constitutional amendment fell one vote short of passing the Senate in 2024 after passing the House. No bill has been filed so far in the 2025 session despite continual lobbying efforts.
Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston (R-Scottsboro) told attendees of a Business Council of Alabama meeting on Tuesday morning that the issue was still “The 800-pound gorilla in the room.”
“Just to recap where we were last year: we came down, we left the 8th floor with 21 votes out of our caucus meeting. We came downstairs, we got on the floor, [and] we ended up with 20 votes on the [Senate] floor. Since then, Sen. Reed has resigned to become Secretary Reed. He was a ‘yes’ so all of a sudden that’s 19 if you take everybody we had last year. I don’t know where we get the votes at. I certainly don’t want to go in with 21 again. I want to have an extra one in my pocket this year, so I’m not looking for two, I’m looking for three. Sen. Albritton has been working the votes. I just don’t know where it comes from, to be honest with you,” Livingston said.
There are 14 days left in the 2025 legislative session.
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