Tracy Williams, left, and Samantha Anderson pose behind the counter March 21, 2019, at TNT Beer & Tobacco in Ardmore, Tennessee. The store is a popular stop for Alabamians wanting to buy lottery tickets.

Powerball fever has again hit the United States, as the winning jackpot for Saturday’s drawing was $625 million Thursday, and could go even higher.

Not surprising, there’s been plenty of Alabamians seen at convenience stores in Ardmore, Tennessee, in hopes of purchasing the winning ticket. Alabama is still one of only six states without a lottery, but at least one lawmaker believes the tides may be turning.

“I think it’s a year people will have the chance to vote on the lottery, provided it’s a clean lottery bill,” State Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens, said this week.

Crawford himself is no fan of the lottery, but he’s not opposed to giving his constituents a chance to vote in a referendum on the issue. He explained he didn’t support previous lottery bills even reaching a referendum level because other forms of gambling — table games and slot machines — were added on.

State Sen. Jim McLendon, R-Springville, on Tuesday announced his intention to file a lottery bill that would not include additional forms of gambling. He proposed half the proceeds of the lottery going to the state’s general fund and the other half to the Education Trust Fund.

“It’s time we let the people vote,” McLendon said a press release.

McLendon’s first bill would amend the state constitution to allow a lottery. A companion bill would address how the lottery would be administered and establish a lottery commission with members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, Senate pro tem and speaker of the House of Representatives.

Crawford said if Alabamians are willing to cross state lines to play the lottery, it may be time to look at how the state can recoup those dollars.

“There are several different lottery bills (being discussed), but I think the Senate realized the importance of a clean bill so the people know what they’re voting on,” he said.

Talk of a lottery bill has been a part of nearly every legislative session since 1999 — the year voters narrowly defeated a statewide referendum on the issue. Former Gov. Robert Bentley called a special session in 2016 for the sole purpose of pushing a lottery bill to fund Medicaid. The bill passed the Senate, but couldn’t clear the House and ultimately died.

The other states that don’t have a lottery are Mississippi, Hawaii, Alaska, Nevada and Utah.