DALTON, Ga. — The Georgia legislature could decide next year to ask voters to approve an amendment to the state constitution legalizing some forms of gambling.

Two local state legislators said Tuesday they are waiting to see the final language of any proposal before deciding how they will vote.

“I want to get some local feedback on this idea, how local people feel,” said state Rep. Jason Ridley, R-Chatsworth, to a meeting of the League of Women Voters of the Dalton Area. “And I want to see what the final bill looks like. There have been times when there have been bills come through the General Assembly that sound good but the final bill has a lot of problems.”

Lawmakers are talking about placing a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would legalize one or more of casino gambling, horse racing and sports betting.

“I’m skeptical of all three,” said Ridley. “I’m skeptical of where the money would go. If the money is going to be directed, for instance, to health care and making sure that everybody across Georgia has better access to health care, I would feel more comfortable.”

State Sen. Chuck Payne, R-Dalton, said he is also waiting to see what the final proposal looks like before making up his mind.

“I’m skeptical of legal gambling, whether any benefits would outweigh the costs,” he said.

The two — along with Wesley Ross, Gov. Brian Kemp’s north Georgia field representative — spoke to the League about what to expect in the next legislative session, which starts on Jan. 13, 2020.

Ridley said lawmakers may take up a pay raise for teachers. He noted that Kemp promised teachers a $5,000 pay raise. The legislature approved a $3,000 raise this year. Ridley said lawmakers may look at providing the remaining $2,000 promised by Kemp, but he said they may not provide the full amount next year and the final portion may not come until 2021.

Ross said he did not know if the rest of the pay raise would be passed by the legislature next year.

“But it is definitely on our radar,” he said.

Payne said lawmakers could look at cutting the income tax again. This year, they cut the top rate to 5.75% from 6%. Payne said there’s a desire among lawmakers to cut the top rate again to 5.5% but that will depend on how strong state tax collections are.

Both Payne and Ridley said they expect the next legislative session to be a quiet one with no controversial bills on the horizon.

“But I could be wrong. I have been surprised in the past,” said Payne.