A Senate committee narrowly approved a state lottery bill on Wednesday.
The Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee okayed SB326, sponsored by Huntsville-Republican state Sen. Paul Sanford, by a 3-2 vote.
The legislation proposes a constitutional amendment, which the voters would have to approve, that would allow Alabama to join multi-state lottery games only such as Powerball and Mega Millions.
The legislative fiscal office estimates the lottery would generate $45 million annually.
Alabama is one of only six states — Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada, and Utah — without a state lottery.
