Alabama Senate’s new leader open to gambling bill but concerned about losing revenue to other states

The senators elected Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, as president pro tem. The vote was 33-0.

Gudger replaces Greg Reed of Jasper, who left the Senate to lead the new Workforce Department under the Gov. Kay Ivey administration, a revamped version of what was previously called the Department of Labor.

The Senate passed a resolution honoring Reed, who spoke, before voting to pick Gudger as his successor.

Gudger was elected to the Senate in 2018 and reelected in 2022. Before coming to the Senate, he served 14 years on the Cullman City Council.

Gudger said he would approach his new leadership position in the spirt of teamwork.

“My job is to make sure that everybody feels included and heard and create a team for the Alabama state Senate as we move forward.”

As for priorities this session, Gudger said they would be protecting Alabama families and values and promoting efficiency and transparency in government.

The senator said fighting illegal immigration would be a focus, and said those efforts would mirror those at the federal level under President Trump.

“Most of the federal government is going after convicted felons, people with warrants, child molesters, and I think we have to do the same,” Gudger said. “We start at the top and work our way down. But right now, that’s what they’re focusing on.”

Last year, a bill to allow voters to decide whether to authorize a lottery, casinos, and sports betting fell one vote short of passing in the Senate. Legislative leaders have said lottery legislation is not a priority this year.

On Tuesday, Gudger said he would wait and see what legislation on gambling is introduced, if any. He said he was concerned about the loss of revenue. Alabama is surrounded by states that offer a lottery.

“I think we’re leaving a lot of money on the table where it’s going to other states,” Gudger said. “That’s my personal opinion. How we handle that, as a Senate body, I’ll be doing what the majority of this body wants.

“So I’m going to have to look at that bill whenever it does get filed, or if it gets filed. And then from that, we’ll take it apart piece by piece and make sure it’s the right thing to do for Alabama.”

Ivey will give her priorities during her State of the State address tonight at the Capitol. The governor has said bills on crime and public safety would be her top priority.

The push for bills addressing crime comes after Birmingham ended 2024 with 151 homicides, the most in a single year since 1933. Montgomery also saw a surge in violent crime in 2024, prompting the creation of the Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit, known as MACS.