Bill > HB1504

This bill allows lottery prize winners of over $1 million to choose to remain anonymous, meaning their identifying information, except for the municipality and county where they reside, will not be publicly released. To exercise this option, the winner must authorize the withholding of five percent of their total prize winnings, which will be calculated before federal taxes and other mandatory deductions. This withheld amount will be deposited into the state lottery account. The bill also clarifies that the Texas Lottery Commission cannot force anonymous winners to participate in public events like news conferences, and it amends existing law to make all identifying information of anonymous winners confidential, with specific exceptions for disclosure to certain state agencies. The Texas Lottery Commission is required to adopt rules and procedures to implement these changes by December 1, 2015, and winners can only choose anonymity for prizes claimed on or after January 1, 2016.