Alabama’s top House Democrat predicts more gambling debate in…

Those who thought the 2024 legislative session drama meant the end of the gambling debate for the foreseeable future might be disappointed in 2025, according to House Majority Leader Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville).

Political gamesmanship, debate, blustering and negotiation over a proposed lottery and gambling package consumed significant time during the 2024 legislative process, causing several lawmakers’ priority bills to die on the vine.

Both houses failed to advance the proposed gambling bills before the session wound up, leaving supporters of the legislation frustrated and opponents breathing a sigh of relief.

On a recent appearance on Talk 93.1, “News and Views” with Joey Clark, Daniels said he expected the issue to come back up during the 2025 legislative session. However, he emphasized the need for any gambling proposal to come from the Senate.

The Senate was ultimately the sticking point in negotiations for the 2024 bill. After the House passed two bills, one authorizing gambling and a constitutional amendment to permit gambling in specific counties in the state, the Senate added several amendments. Even after both bodies appeared to hammer out a compromise, the Senate failed to pass the two bills by the session’s end.

“I suspect that it will come up [but] it will have to be led in the Senate,” Daniels said. “We ended with the Senate last time, and so it will have to begin with the Senate because we want to make certain… we laid the foundation. It went back and forth, and we didn’t get to where we need to be. And so, in the end, it died in the Senate. So, our senators will likely take on the issue. But, before, I’m certain they will count the votes and try to negotiate down to getting the votes that they need so that we will have something workable. Hopefully, they’ll start with the foundation that was laid by the House.”

To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.

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