Politics
Politics

Bill to let Georgia lottery winners remain anonymous heads to governor’s desk

Big lottery winners can choose to remain anonymous if a bill approved by the General Assembly Thursday becomes law.

Credit: AJC.com

Credit: AJC.com

Big lottery winners can choose to remain anonymous if a bill approved by the General Assembly Thursday becomes law.
By
March 30, 2018

Big lottery winners could soon keep their names private after the Georgia Senate approved legislation Thursday.

The measure, Senate Bill 331, would guarantee anonymity for anyone who wins more than $250,000 from the Georgia Lottery upon written request.

The bill's sponsor, Senate Minority Leader Steve Henson, D-Stone Mountain, has said the legislation was necessary to keep lottery winners safe. Winners who go public are sometimes targeted with scams or physical harm.

A man who won $400,000 from the lottery in Fitzgerald, Ga., was killed in 2016.

The House amended the legislation earlier this month. and the Senate agreed to the changes.

The bill now heads to Gov. Nathan Deal’s desk for his consideration.

Stay on top of what’s happening in Georgia government and politics at PoliticallyGeorgia.com.

About the Author

Maya T. Prabhu covers the Georgia Senate and statewide issues as a government reporter for The AJC. Born in Queens, New York, and raised in northern Virginia, Maya attended Spelman College and then the University of Maryland for a master's degree. She writes about social issues, the criminal justice system and legislative politics.

Follow Maya Prabhu on facebookFollow Maya Prabhu on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

In addition to being a political and religious leader, Bishop Reginald Jackson also served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of Morris Brown College. (Ben Gray/AJC)

Credit: Ben Gray

OBITUARY

AME Bishop Reginald Jackson, religious and political leader, dies at 71

Jackson served for eight years as head of 500 African Methodist Episcopal churches in Georgia.

Georgia dismisses Trump election case, ending his last criminal prosecution

Fulton DA Fani Willis launched the investigation nearly five years ago saying Trump and his allies conspired to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.

Fulton County taxpayers could be on the hook for millions as Trump case ends

Fulton County taxpayers may need to pay millions of dollars in legal defense bills for Donald Trump and others charged in the now defunct election interference case.

The Latest

“This case is hereby dismissed in its entirety,” a Superior Court judge ruled in Georgia's election case against President Donald Trump. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Credit: NYT

Georgia dismisses Trump election case, ending his last criminal prosecution

Fulton County taxpayers could be on the hook for millions as Trump case ends

OBITUARY

AME Bishop Reginald Jackson, religious and political leader, dies at 71

Featured

Atlanta art and antiques appraiser and auctioneer Allan Baitcher (right) takes bids during a 2020 auction. Baitcher and his company, Peachtree Antiques, are being sued by a Florida multimillionaire who says he paid them $20 million for fakes. (AJC 2020)

Credit: Phil Skinner / Staff

Atlanta antique appraiser made $20M selling fakes, lawsuit says

An Atlanta art and antique appraiser is being sued by a Florida multimillionaire, who says he spent about $20 million on thousands of fake works.

How an ex-Texan and a university helped change the face of a Georgia city

Mercer University President Bill Underwood is stepping down after two decades at the helm. He's credited with boosting enrollment, resurrecting football and reshaping Macon.

Thanksgiving to bring chilly, dry, overall delightful weather to metro Atlanta

A big drop in temperatures is coming overnight Wednesday, so go ahead and pull out those flannels and blankets.