Attempt to cut Arkansas Lottery scholarships fails in Senate

LITTLE ROCK — A proposal to cut lottery-funded scholarships in half for incoming college freshman and change the program's eligibility requirements has narrowly failed before the Arkansas Senate.

The Senate voted 17-9 in favor Thursday, but the bill needed 18 votes.

Republican Sen. Jimmy Hickey of Texarkana asked the chamber to expunge the vote and said he would try again.

Hickey's bill would lower the scholarship amount for incoming freshmen from $2,000 to $1,000 and increase the amount for their sophomore year from $3,000 to $4,000.

The proposal would also eliminate the minimum grade-point-average of 2.5 that students could use to qualify. It instead would require a 19 or higher on the ACT.

Students can now qualify using the GPA or ACT.

Several senators were absent after a winter storm hit overnight.

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