Senate OKs measure to reshuffle Tennessee Education Lottery board and increase transparency

Nashville — The Senate passed Senate Bill 17-23 on third reading, a measure to restructure the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation board, require an independent audit and bring greater transparency to records not previously subject to public-record requests.

Sponsor Senator Roberts described the bill as a way to increase oversight of an entity that has moved billions through its accounts and said the bill "vacates and reconstitutes the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation board of directors effective 07/01/2026." He said the legislation would make certain records subject to public record requests and require delivery of audit reports to legislative finance chairs. (Senator Roberts)

Opponents, including Senator Yarborough, cautioned that the change raises separation-of-powers questions because the current structure was designed in part to provide independent fiduciary governance. Yarborough said converting appointments to serve "at the pleasure of" legislative leaders risks making board members beholden to political instructions. (Senator Yarborough)

Senator Roberts said the change is meant to provide Tennesseans with a clearer accountability pathway and to align the lottery corporation with other governmental entities that are subject to oversight. After floor debate and adoption of committee amendments, the Senate passed the bill with a recorded vote tally on the clerk's roll.