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Senate committee approves local bill limiting pari-mutuel wagering to Lowndes County with revenue allocation amendment

3043689 · April 17, 2025

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Summary

SB262, presented as a local bill for Lowndes County, was amended to allocate portions of proceeds to local wastewater and county councils and received a favorable report from the committee.

A Senate committee gave SB262 a favorable report after adopting an amendment that directs portions of wagering proceeds to local programs in Lowndes County.

Sponsor Senator Stewart told the committee SB262 restricts pari-mutuel wagering to Lowndes County and aligns with sections 104, 105 and 65 of the Alabama Constitution, making the measure a valid local bill for that county. The sponsor moved to report the bill favorably and offered an amendment allocating a portion of proceeds to local programs.

The amendment adopted in committee would allocate 20% of specified proceeds to the Black Belt unincorporated wastewater program and 40% to county councils throughout Lowndes County. The sponsor and other senators described the amendment as a way to direct revenue toward community-based solutions for local environmental and infrastructure issues.

During discussion senators noted Lowndes County’s environmental justice challenges and said local groups are already installing septic systems; one senator identified the local group as working on septic installations. Committee members praised the approach as giving local stakeholders resources to address wastewater needs.

The amendment was adopted by voice vote and the committee then voted to report the bill favorably. The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript.

SB262 will advance from committee with the amendment allocating revenue to county programs; committee members said the change reflects a locally targeted revenue and remediation strategy.