Proposed Bills Could Reduce Amounts of Lottery Scholarships

Lawmakers are preparing to debate the first of several bills making changes to how students will receive their lottery scholarship money.

This first bill introduced would change the amount of money a student is awarded in lottery scholarship funding, basically a lower amount, to start out with.

Shane Broadway with the Arkansas Department of Higher Education says the award amount and eligibility criteria will have to  change, no matter what.

"We've had more students apply and accept the scholarships than anticipated, and the revenue from lottery remains relatively flat," Broadway says.

The current award amounts are $4,500 for a four-year college and $2,250 for a two-year. 

The new proposal would provide $2,000 for first-year, incoming freshman, whether it's at a four year or two year college, but as they return, that award amount will increase.