Bill > SB498

This bill creates four new dedicated instant lottery scratch-off games, each designed to generate funding for specific public interest areas: fire departments, emergency medical services, schools, and roads. Beginning September 1, 2025, the state lottery commission will establish these specialized scratch-off ticket games, with all net profits from ticket sales being deposited directly into corresponding dedicated funds: the All County Fire Protection Fund, the Emergency Medical Services Equipment and Training Fund, the Innovation in Education Fund, and the State Road Fund. Each game will have unique design features and themes that will be updated periodically to remain competitive with other lottery offerings, and the tickets will explicitly state that the profits are intended to benefit the specific sector associated with that game. The bill mandates that these new lottery games deviate from standard lottery profit distribution rules, ensuring that the proceeds are directed specifically to the designated funds rather than being allocated through typical lottery revenue channels. This approach allows the state to generate additional targeted funding for critical public services through a voluntary mechanism (lottery ticket purchases) while providing transparency about how the funds will be used.

Budget and Finance

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=498&year=2025&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill