The Arkansas Lottery bill that voters approved in the November election is just one signature away from becoming a reality after the bill passed the Arkansas House and Senate in unanimous votes on Monday.

Govenor Mike Beebe is expected to sign the bill, and the proceeds raised from the new Arkansas lottery will go to expand the Arkansas Academic Challenge scholarships.

None of this is particularly unexpected, but if this all works the way it is supposed to, getting a college education in Arkansas is about to be a lot easier. We wrote about the lottery back in September when we found out Georgia has a similar program that now gives full ride scholarships to any student who can keep a B average.

Here’s hoping this turns out to be a good thing for Arkansas, and that a lot of people who could never have afforded to go to college get the education they are entitled to.

If only this lottery bill could do something about my student loans…

[Photo by tsuacctnt via Flickr and Creative Commons 2.0]