HB 276 - Mississippi Lottery for Education

• Creates a state lottery called the "Mississippi Lottery for Education" administered by the Mississippi Gaming Commission with tickets sold through licensed distributors and retailers.

• Allocates lottery proceeds as follows: 45% for prize money, up to 0.5% to the Gaming Commission for administration, 4% to counties where tickets were sold, and remaining funds to the Mississippi Hope Scholarship Trust Fund.

• Establishes the Mississippi Hope Scholarship Trust Fund to provide scholarships covering tuition costs for Mississippi students enrolling at eligible in-state institutions with a minimum 3.0 GPA, administered by the Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board.

• Prohibits lottery ticket sales to persons under 18 years old, though adults may purchase tickets as gifts for minors; winners under 18 receive payments through adult family members or legal guardians.

• Amends existing gambling and lottery statutes to exempt the authorized state lottery from criminal prohibitions on gambling and lottery operations while maintaining restrictions on illegal gambling activities.