Representative Evans presses sponsor for data after proposed HOPE reserve increase

During the Rules Committee’s crossover briefing, Speaker 26 presented legislation that would create a needs-based scholarship program and adjust related HOPE-reserve language. The bill would change the shortfall lottery reserve calculation from 50% to 100% of average net proceeds when reserves exceed $2 billion, sponsor said.

Representative Evans pressed the sponsor for the basis of that change, saying she had not seen supporting data and worried that higher reserves would reduce money available to students. "We absolutely want to make sure that HOPE is preserved, but this does exactly the opposite," Evans said, arguing the body has previously worked to make lottery funds available for education rather than stockpiling.

The sponsor replied that the change was requested by the governor’s budget staff and planning office and offered to sit down with Representative Evans and others to review the underlying data; he acknowledged that further discussion would be needed before final legislative action.

Committee members requested the supporting documentation and said they would review the language once copies are available; no vote was taken in the session.

Representative Evans’ request for data stands as a near-term follow-up item for sponsors and staff.