House higher education committee holds hearing on online sports-betting constitutional amendment and enabling bill

The House Higher Education Committee on the evening of the hearing took testimony on two related measures: House Resolution 450, a proposed constitutional amendment to place a 2026 ballot question asking Georgians whether to legalize online-only sports betting, and House Bill 686, the enabling legislation that would set rules, licensing and taxes if the amendment passes.

The measures were presented together for the hearing but would be voted on separately. Chairman Weidower, sponsor of both measures, said HR 450 would ask voters in 2026 “whether or not they want to legalize online sports betting only,” and that proceeds would be routed to the Georgia Lottery for education programs. He described the revenue split in HB 686 as 85% to pre-K and HOPE scholarships and 15% of the first $150,000,000 set aside for responsible-gaming measures.

“Each one of us can pick up our phone, place bets, with 0 to no regulations whatsoever,” Chairman Weidower said, arguing that the bills aim to regulate a market that now operates largely outside state oversight and to “capture the tax dollars that are leaving the state.”

Key provisions outlined in HB 686 during the hearing include: a 20% tax on operator revenue; designation of the Georgia Lottery as the master sports-betting licensee; a cap on certain licenses (16 total, with set allocations for professional teams…