Bill to Lower Lottery Scholarship Amounts Clears House

LITTLE ROCK, AR -- The Arkansas House of Representatives has moved to lower the amount of college lottery scholarships for incoming freshmen.

House Bill 1295 would give incoming freshmen at 4-year schools $2,000 for the first year, down from the current amount, at $4,500.

However, the proposed tiered system allows the scholarship amount to increase by $1,000 annually, topping out at $5,000 during a student's senior year.
   
With fewer people playing the lottery, lawmakers say a change has to happen.

"The only question was how was it going to be done, and we felt like this was the best way to go about it and putting us on a sustainable path moving forward, so we would be able to have the funds and the students wouldn't be constantly concerned that every two years we were going to have to lower amounts," Rep. Jeremy Gillam (R) Judsonia said.

The House approved the measure 69-21.

It now moves to the Senate for consideration.