Part of the stagnation comes from two big lobbying groups, Albritton said – ALFA and the Business Council of Alabama. We can’t get much of a commitment from them in the House that they’ll move.” “We’ve passed bills twice now and they didn’t do anything. Greg Albritton, one of the most vocal and active gambling legislation supporters in the legislature. “They’ve basically been a wet blanket in the House – leadership has,” said Sen. Not simply because the bills didn’t come up for votes, but also because leadership didn’t offer support for the bills. Gambling proponents in the legislature, particularly in the Senate, which has already passed comprehensive gaming bills twice in the past five years, have not minced words about their discontent with “House leadership” over the stalled gaming bills. (McCutcheon has denied this, saying the bills offered didn’t have the necessary support.) Mac McCutcheon, who lawmakers said was basically singularly responsible for preventing gaming legislation from advancing last session. That’s a bit of a change from his predecessor, former Rep. He promised that if a bill got out of the ad hoc committees it would be placed first in the Economic Development and Tourism committee, and should it receive a favorable report, it would have “every opportunity” for a House vote.īy clicking subscribe, you agree to our privacy policy.

Ledbetter said he has no intention of standing in the way of gambling legislation.

The only thing I want is a good bill that has support.” The process could move faster – because we do have some pieces already in place – and we could see a bill this session. “I would say that it’s doubtful that they could get legislation out this session that could be voted on,” said House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter.

They’re taking things slowly, accepting input from all corners and they have no real deadlines, but they’re working just the same. Just behind the scenes, two House of Representatives ad hoc committees – one Republican and one Democratic – are working to put together gambling legislation that can be successful. The death of gambling for the 2023 legislative session was possibly announced a bit prematurely.

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