PCS for CS/HB 881 — An act relating to pari-mutuel wagering
Summary
PCS for CS/HB 881 (2026), a bill to be entitled “An act relating to pari-mutuel wagering.” The bill title lists authorizing thoroughbred permitholders to elect not to conduct live racing or games, specifying that such permitholders retain certain permits, eligibility, exemptions, and licenses, and requiring certain thoroughbred permitholders to continue to offer live racing until providing a specific notification to the commission. It also lists provisions on thoroughbred breeders' awards and on requiring purses be funded in a specified manner and paid at a specified rate. Section 15 states that the act takes effect July 1, 2026.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
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“PCS for CS/HB 881 — An act relating to pari-mutuel wagering.”
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
PCS for CS/HB 881 ORIGINAL YEAR
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to pari-mutuel wagering; amending s.
3 550.01215, F.S.; authorizing thoroughbred
4 permitholders to elect not to conduct live racing or
5 games; specifying that such permitholders retain
6 certain permits, eligibility, exemptions, and
7 licenses; providing that certain permitholders are
8 eligible to be a guest track; requiring certain
9 thoroughbred permitholders to continue to offer live
10 racing until providing a specific notification to the
11 commission; providing notice requirements; providing
12 applicability; amending s. 550.0351, F.S.; conforming
13 provisions to changes made by the act; amending s.
14 550.09515, F.S.; prohibiting reissuance of horse
15 permits to certain permitholders who do not pay tax on
16 handle for live races for a specified period; removing
17 provisions requiring reissuance of escheated horse
18 permits; amending s. 550.2614, F.S.; conforming
19 provisions to changes made by the act; amending s.
20 550.26165, F.S.; providing legislative purpose;
21 requiring certain moneys to be used for a specified
22 purpose; requiring awards be given at a uniform rate
23 pursuant to a specified plan; requiring such plan be
24 published in the Florida Administrative Register by a
25 date certain; authorizing the commission to use
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26 flexibility in the development and implementation of a
27 certain program; providing the source of amounts
28 available for distribution; requiring permitholders to
29 make certain payments by a specified date; revising
30 thoroughbred breeders' awards; providing eligibility
31 requirements for awards; requiring a specified
32 association to maintain certain records; authorizing
33 such association to require a fee for specified
34 services; requiring purses be funded in a specified
35 manner and paid at a specified rate; requiring awards
36 to be paid by a certain time; requiring the Florida
37 Gaming Control Commission maintain certain records;
38 requiring a certain association to immediately remit
39 specified funds to the state; requiring such funds to
40 be placed in a specified account; authorizing awards
41 to be paid for races in other states or countries;
42 requiring the commission to adopt certain rules;
43 providing underpayment requirements for permitholders;
44 authorizing the commission to adopt emergency rules;
45 repealing s. 550.2625, F.S., relating to Horseracing,
46 minimum purse requirement, Florida breeders' and
47 owners' awards; amending ss. 550.2633 and 550.26352,
48 F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the
49 act; amending s. 550.3345, F.S.; revising the
50 composition of a certain board of directors; revising
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51 provisions relating to the conversion of quarter horse
52 permits to a limited thoroughbred permit; authorizing
53 such permit locations to be moved to a licensed
54 thoroughbred training center that meets certain
55 requirements; providing for the licensing of
56 thoroughbred training centers; prohibiting such
57 centers from being issued certain licenses; providing
58 an exception; authorizing the commission to adopt
59 rules for such licensing and oversight; providing for
60 board membership of the not-for-profit corporation;
61 providing legislative findings; preempting certain
62 local laws, charters, ordinances, resolutions,
63 regulations, policies, initiatives, or referendums;
64 providing application; amending s. 550.3551, F.S.;
65 revising the entity responsible for approving changes
66 to live racing minimums; repealing s. 550.625, F.S.,
67 relating to intertrack wagering, purses, and breeders'
68 awards; amending s. 550.6305, F.S.; revising the
69 entity to be paid certain breeders' awards; amending
70 s. 551.104, F.S.; revising specified requirements for
71 thoroughbred permitholders who have certain slot
72 machine licenses; amending s. 849.086, F.S.; revising
73 requirements for certain permitholders who have
74 cardroom licenses; providing an effective date.
75
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76 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
77 Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
78 550.01215, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
79 550.01215 License application; periods of operation;
80 license fees; bond.—
81 (1) Each permitholder shall annually, during the period
82 between January 15 and February 4, file in writing with the
83 commission its application for an operating license for a pari-
84 mutuel facility for the conduct of pari-mutuel wagering during
85 the next state fiscal year, including intertrack and simulcast
86 race wagering. Each application for live performances must
87 specify the number, dates, and starting times of all live
88 performances that the permitholder intends to conduct. It must
89 also specify which performances will be conducted as charity or
90 scholarship performances.
91 (b)1. A greyhound permitholder may not conduct live
92 racing. A jai alai permitholder, thoroughbred permitholder,
93 harness horse racing permitholder, or quarter horse racing
94 permitholder may elect not to conduct live racing or games. A
95 thoroughbred permitholder must conduct live racing. A greyhound
96 permitholder, jai alai permitholder, thoroughbred permitholder,
97 harness horse racing permitholder, or quarter horse racing
98 permitholder that does not conduct live racing or games retains
99 its permit; is a pari-mutuel facility as defined in s.
100 550.002(23); if such permitholder has been issued a slot machine
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101 license, the facility where such permit is located remains an
102 eligible facility as defined in s. 551.102(4), continues to be
103 eligible for a slot machine license pursuant to s. 551.104(3),
104 and is exempt from ss. 551.104(10) ss. 551.104(4)(c) and (10)
105 and 551.114(2); is eligible, but not required, to be a guest
106 track and, if the permitholder is a harness horse racing
107 permitholder or a thoroughbred permitholder, to be a host track
108 for purposes of intertrack wagering and simulcasting pursuant to
109 ss. 550.3551, 550.615, 550.625, and 550.6305; and remains
110 eligible for a cardroom license. A thoroughbred permitholder who
111 operates a slot machine facility or cardroom shall offer a full
112 schedule of live racing until such permitholder notifies the
113 commission that it will no longer offer live racing. Notice
114 under this subparagraph is not valid unless it is delivered on
115 or after July 1, 2027, and contains the date on which the
116 permitholder will no longer offer live racing, which may not be
117 earlier than 3 years after the date of the notice. The
118 permitholder is not required to deliver such notice when
119 relocating under s. 550.3345.
120 2. A permitholder or licensee may not conduct live
121 greyhound racing or dogracing in connection with any wager for
122 money or any other thing of value in the state. The commission
123 may deny, suspend, or revoke any permit or license under this
124 chapter if a permitholder or licensee conducts live greyhound
125 racing or dogracing in violation of this subparagraph. In
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126 addition to, or in lieu of, denial, suspension, or revocation of
127 such permit or license, the commission may impose a civil
128 penalty of up to $5,000 against the permitholder or licensee for
129 a violation of this subparagraph. All penalties imposed and
130 collected must be deposited with the Chief Financial Officer to
131 the credit of the General Revenue Fund.
132 Section 2. Subsection (4) of section 550.0351, Florida
133 Statutes, is amended to read:
134 550.0351 Charity days.—
135 (4) The total of all profits derived from the conduct of a
136 charity day performance must include all revenues derived from
137 the conduct of that performance, including all state taxes that
138 would otherwise be due to the state, except that the daily
139 license fee as provided in s. 550.0951(1) and the breaks for the
140 promotional trust funds as provided in s. 550.2625(3), (4), (5),
141 (7), and (8) shall be paid to the commission. All other revenues
142 from the charity performance, including the commissions, breaks,
143 and admissions and the revenues from parking, programs, and
144 concessions, shall be included in the total of all profits.
145 Section 3. Subsection (3) of section 550.09515, Florida
146 Statutes, is amended to read:
147 550.09515 Thoroughbred horse taxes; abandoned interest in
148 a permit for nonpayment of taxes.—
149 (3)(a) The permit of a thoroughbred horse permitholder who
150 is conducting live thoroughbred horse performances and who does
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151 not pay tax on handle for live thoroughbred horse performances
152 for a full schedule of live races during any 2 consecutive state
153 fiscal years shall be void and shall not be reissued escheat to
154 and become the property of the state unless such failure to
155 operate and pay tax on handle was the direct result of fire,
156 strike, war, or other disaster or event beyond the ability of
157 the permitholder to control. Financial hardship to the
158 permitholder shall not, in and of itself, constitute just cause
159 for failure to operate and pay tax on handle.
160 (b) In order to maximize the tax revenues to the state,
161 the commission shall reissue an escheated thoroughbred horse
162 permit to a qualified applicant pursuant to the provisions of
163 this chapter as for the issuance of an initial permit. However,
164 the provisions of this chapter relating to referendum
165 requirements for a pari-mutuel permit shall not apply to the
166 reissuance of an escheated thoroughbred horse permit. As
167 specified in the application and upon approval by the commission
168 of an application for the permit, the new permitholder shall be
169 authorized to operate a thoroughbred horse facility anywhere in
170 the same county in which the escheated permit was authorized to
171 be operated, notwithstanding the provisions of s. 550.054(2)
172 relating to mileage limitations.
173 Section 4. Subsection (1) of section 550.2614, Florida
174 Statutes, is amended to read:
175 550.2614 Distribution of certain funds to a horsemen's
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176 association.—
177 (1) Each licensee that holds a permit for thoroughbred
178 horse racing in this state shall deduct from the purses required
179 by s. 550.2625, an amount of money equal to 1 percent of the
180 total purse pool and shall pay that amount to a horsemen's
181 association representing the majority of the thoroughbred
182 racehorse owners and trainers for its use in accordance with the
183 stated goals of its articles of association filed with the
184 Department of State.
185 Section 5. Section 550.26165, Florida Statutes, is amended
186 to read:
187 (Substantial rewording of section.
188 See s. 550.26165, F.S., for present text.)
189 550.26165 Breeders' incentives, purses, and special racing
190 awards plan.—
191 (1) A purse structure for racehorse owners which is
192 competitive with the purses offered in other states is an
193 important factor in attracting the entry of well-bred horses in
194 race meets in this state. The availability of awards to the
195 owners and the breeders of Florida-bred racehorses, including
196 the owners of Florida-based stallions, is an important factor
197 used to incentivize the purchase of Florida-bred horses at
198 auction and to induce well-bred stallions and mares to engage in
199 breeding activities in the state. In turn, the availability of
200 these financial awards help to ensure the continuing viability
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201 of the thoroughbred industry in the state while simultaneously
202 producing maximum revenues from licensed racing activity for the
203 state and the counties. The purpose of this section is to
204 encourage the agricultural activity of owning, breeding, and
205 racing Florida-bred racehorses.
206 (2) Moneys dedicated in this chapter for use as purse
207 supplements to the owners of Florida-bred racehorses as
208 breeders' awards and stallion awards are to be used to
209 incentivize the ownership and the breeding of registered
210 Florida-bred horses. Such awards shall be given at a uniform
211 rate pursuant to an annual plan developed by the commission. The
212 annual plan shall be developed with input from the Department of
213 Agriculture and Consumer Services, stakeholders in the
214 thoroughbred racing and breeding industry, and the general
215 public and published in the Florida Administrative Register by
216 January 1 for implementation during the next licensed racing
217 year. The awards programs described in this chapter must be
218 responsive to rapidly changing incentive programs in other
219 states and to accomplish this goal, the commission is authorized
220 to use flexibility in the design and implementation of a
221 competitive awards programs. The plan approved by the commission
222 shall allocate, for distribution by category, breeders' awards,
223 stallion awards, and Florida-bred purse supplements available
224 for distribution in the ensuing licensing year. The amount
225 available for distribution shall be derived from the following
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226 sources:
227 (a) A minimum amount equal to 0.955 percent on all pari-
228 mutuel pools conducted on all wagering during each race meet,
229 including any intertrack race taken pursuant to ss. 550.615-
230 550.6305 or any interstate simulcast taken pursuant to s.
231 550.3551(3). This paragraph also applies to all Breeder's Cup
232 races conducted outside this state taken pursuant to s.
233 550.3551(3).
234 (b) A minimum amount equal to 3.475 percent of the gross
235 revenue derived by the thoroughbred permitholder when serving as
236 the host track for wagering on any race originating live in this
237 state which is broadcast out-of-state to any location at which
238 wagers are accepted pursuant to s. 550.3551(2).
239
240 The permitholder conducting the races shall make the payments
241 authorized in this section to the commission for deposit into
242 the Pari-mutuel Wagering Trust Fund. The permitholder shall
243 remit to the commission such payments by the 5th day of each
244 calendar month for such sums accruing during the preceding
245 calendar month and provide any corresponding reporting as
246 prescribed by the commission. Such payments together with any
247 interest earned shall be used exclusively for the payment of
248 breeders', stallion, or special racing awards in accordance with
249 the plan established pursuant to this section.
250 (3) In order for a breeder of a Florida-bred thoroughbred
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251 horse to be eligible to receive a breeder's award, the horse
252 must have been registered as a Florida-bred horse with the
253 Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' Association and the Jockey Club
254 certificate for the horse must show that the horse has been duly
255 registered as a Florida-bred horse. The Florida Thoroughbred
256 Breeders' Association may charge the registrant a reasonable fee
257 for this verification and registration not to exceed $75 per
258 horse.
259 (4) In order for an owner of the sire of a thoroughbred
260 horse winning a stakes race to be eligible to receive a stallion
261 award, the stallion must have been registered with the Florida
262 Thoroughbred Breeders' Association and the live breeding of the
263 registered Florida-bred horse must have occurred in this state.
264 The stallion must be standing permanently in this state between
265 February 1 and June 15 of each year or, if the stallion is dead,
266 must have stood permanently in this state for a period of at
267 least 1 year immediately before its death. The removal of a
268 stallion from this state during the period of time between
269 February 1 and June 15 of any year for any reason other than
270 exclusively for prescribed medical treatment, as approved by the
271 Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, renders the owner or
272 owners of the stallion ineligible to receive a stallion award
273 under any circumstances for offspring sired before removal;
274 however, if a removed stallion is returned to this state, all
275 offspring sired subsequent to the return make the owner or
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276 owners of the stallion eligible for the stallion award but only
277 for those offspring sired subsequent to such return to this
278 state. The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' Association shall
279 maintain complete records showing the date the stallion arrived
280 in this state for the first time, whether or not the stallion
281 remained in the state permanently, the location of the stallion,
282 and whether the stallion is still standing in this state and
283 complete records showing awards earned, received, and
284 distributed. The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' Association may
285 charge the stallion owner a reasonable fee for this service not
286 to exceed $75 per stallion.
287 (5) Purses shall be funded from the pari-mutuel pools
288 conducted by the permitholder. A thoroughbred permit shall pay
289 as purses during its race meets an amount equal to 7 percent of
290 all wagers placed pursuant to s. 550.615 as purses during its
291 current race meet.
292 (6) A permitholder conducting a thoroughbred horse race
293 under this chapter shall, within 30 days after the end of the
294 race meet during which the race is conducted, certify to the
295 commission such information relating to the thoroughbred horses
296 winning a stakes or other horserace at the meet as may be
297 required to determine the eligibility for payment of breeders',
298 stallion, and special racing awards.
299 (7) The commission shall maintain complete records showing
300 the starters and winners in all races conducted at thoroughbred
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301 tracks in this state and shall maintain complete records showing
302 awards earned, received, and distributed.
303 (8) Any funds in the possession of the Florida
304 Thoroughbred Breeders' Association which had been paid by any
305 thoroughbred permitholder as required by any provision of
306 chapter 550 or chapter 551 in effect when the payment was made
307 or by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
308 Services as required by any provision of chapter 571 in effect
309 when the payment was made shall be immediately paid to the
310 commission for deposit to the Pari-mutuel Wagering Trust Fund.
311 The commission shall authorize payment from such funds to any
312 breeder or stallion owner entitled to an award that has not been
313 previously paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders'
314 Association in accordance with the applicable plan of
315 distribution.
316 (9) Breeders' awards or stallion awards authorized under
317 this chapter, if authorized by a rule of the commission, may be
318 paid with respect to thoroughbred horse races taking place in
319 other states or countries.
320 (10) The commission shall adopt reasonable rules to ensure
321 the timely and accurate payment of all amounts withheld by
322 horserace permitholders regarding the distribution of purses,
323 owners' awards, and other amounts collected for payment to
324 owners and breeders pursuant to this section and this chapter.
325 (11) Each permitholder that fails to pay out all moneys
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326 collected for payment to owners and breeders shall, within 10
327 days after the end of the meet during which the permitholder
328 underpaid purses, deposit an amount equal to the underpayment
329 into a separate interest-bearing account established by the
330 commission, which moneys shall be distributed to owners and
331 breeders in accordance with commission rules.
332 (12) The commission may at any time adopt emergency rules
333 pursuant to s. 120.54 to implement this section. The Legislature
334 finds that such emergency rulemaking power is necessary for the
335 preservation of the rights and welfare of the people in order to
336 provide additional funds to benefit the statewide thoroughbred
337 racing and breeding industry. The Legislature further finds that
338 the unique nature of breeding and racing operations require,
339 from time to time, that the commission respond as quickly as is
340 practicable to changes in the marketplace. Therefore, in
341 adopting such emergency rules, the commission need not make the
342 findings required by s. 120.54(4)(a). Emergency rules adopted
343 under this section are exempt from s. 120.54(4)(c) and shall
344 remain in effect until replaced by other emergency rules or by
345 rules adopted under the nonemergency rulemaking procedures of
346 the Administrative Procedure Act.
347 Section 6. Section 550.2625, Florida Statutes, is
348 repealed.
349 Section 7. Subsection (2) of section 550.2633, Florida
350 Statutes, is amended to read:
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351 550.2633 Horseracing; distribution of abandoned interest
352 in or contributions to pari-mutuel pools.—
353 (2) All moneys or other property which has escheated to
354 and become the property of the state as provided herein and
355 which is held by a permitholder authorized to conduct pari-
356 mutuel pools in this state shall be paid annually by the
357 permitholder to the recipient designated in this subsection
358 within 60 days after the close of the race meeting of the
359 permitholder. Section 550.1645 notwithstanding, the moneys shall
360 be paid by the permitholder as follows:
361 (a) Funds from any harness horse races shall be paid to
362 the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association and
363 shall be used for the payment of breeders' awards, stallion
364 awards, stallion stakes, additional purses, and prizes for, and
365 for the general promotion of owning and breeding of, Florida-
366 bred standardbred horses, as provided for in s. 550.2625.
367 (b) Funds from quarter horse races shall be paid to the
368 Florida Quarter Horse Breeders and Owners Association and shall
369 be allocated solely for supplementing and augmenting purses and
370 prizes and for the general promotion of owning and breeding of
371 racing quarter horses in this state, as provided for in s.
372 550.2625.
373 Section 8. Subsection (7) of section 550.26352, Florida
374 Statutes, is amended to read:
375 550.26352 Breeders' Cup Meet; pools authorized; conflicts;
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376 taxes; credits; transmission of races; rules; application.—
377 (7) The permitholder conducting the Breeders' Cup Meet
378 shall be exempt from the payment of purses and other payments to
379 horsemen on all on-track, intertrack, interstate, and
380 international wagers or rights fees or payments arising
381 therefrom for all races for which the purse is paid or supplied
382 by Breeders' Cup Limited. The permitholder conducting the
383 Breeders' Cup Meet shall not, however, be exempt from breeders'
384 awards payments for on-track and intertrack wagers as provided
385 in ss. 550.2625(3) and 550.625(2)(a) for races in which the
386 purse is paid or supplied by Breeders' Cup Limited.
387 Section 9. Subsection (2) of section 550.3345, Florida
388 Statutes, is amended, and subsections (4) and (5) are added to
389 that section, to read:
390 550.3345 Conversion of quarter horse permit to a limited
391 thoroughbred permit.—
392 (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the holder
393 of a quarter horse racing permit issued under s. 550.334 may,
394 within 1 year after the effective date of this section, apply to
395 the commission for a transfer of the quarter horse racing permit
396 to a not-for-profit corporation formed under state law to serve
397 the purposes of the state as provided in subsection (1). The
398 board of directors of the not-for-profit corporation must be
399 comprised of 11 members, 4 of whom shall be designated by the
400 applicant, 4 of whom shall be designated by the commission
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401 Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, and 3 of whom shall
402 be designated by the other 8 directors, with at least 1 of these
403 3 members being an authorized representative of another
404 thoroughbred permitholder in this state. The not-for-profit
405 corporation shall submit an application to the commission for
406 review and approval of the transfer in accordance with s.
407 550.054. Upon approval of the transfer by the commission, and
408 notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
409 not-for-profit corporation may, within 1 year after its receipt
410 of the permit, request that the commission convert the quarter
411 horse racing permit to a permit authorizing the holder to
412 conduct pari-mutuel wagering meets of thoroughbred racing.
413 Neither the transfer of the quarter horse racing permit nor its
414 conversion to a limited thoroughbred permit shall be subject to
415 the mileage limitation or the ratification election as set forth
416 under s. 550.054(2) or s. 550.0651. Upon receipt of the request
417 for such conversion, the commission shall timely issue a
418 converted permit. The converted permit and the not-for-profit
419 corporation shall be subject to the following requirements:
420 (a) All net revenues derived by the not-for-profit
421 corporation under the thoroughbred horse racing permit and any
422 license issued to the not-for-profit corporation under chapter
423 849, after the funding of operating expenses and capital
424 improvements, shall be dedicated to the enhancement of
425 thoroughbred purses and breeders', stallion, and special racing
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426 awards under this chapter; the general promotion of the
427 thoroughbred horse breeding industry; and the care in this state
428 of thoroughbred horses retired from racing.
429 (b) From December 1 through April 30, no live thoroughbred
430 racing may be conducted under the permit on any day during which
431 another thoroughbred permitholder is conducting live
432 thoroughbred racing within 125 air miles of the not-for-profit
433 corporation's pari-mutuel facility unless the other thoroughbred
434 permitholder gives its written consent.
435 (c) After the conversion of the quarter horse racing
436 permit and the issuance of its initial license to conduct pari-
437 mutuel wagering meets of thoroughbred racing, the not-for-profit
438 corporation shall annually apply to the commission for a license
439 pursuant to s. 550.5251.
440 (d) Racing under the permit may take place only at the
441 location for which the original quarter horse racing permit was
442 issued, which may be leased by the not-for-profit corporation
443 for that purpose; however, the not-for-profit corporation may,
444 without the conduct of any ratification election pursuant to s.
445 550.054(13) or s. 550.0651, move the location of racing under
446 the permit to either:
447 1. Another location in the same county provided that such
448 relocation is approved under the zoning and land use regulations
449 of the applicable county or municipality; or.
450 2. A licensed thoroughbred training center located in a
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451 county which has previously authorized pari-mutuel wagering. In
452 order to be licensed as a thoroughbred training center, it must
453 be designed and operated for the purpose of training, boarding,
454 and caring for thoroughbred racehorses and be capable of
455 providing instruction for sundry equestrian activities related
456 to such horses. The facility must have permanent stabling for at
457 least 1,000 horses and operate multiple racecourses of varying
458 surfaces for the training of thoroughbred racing. Each
459 racecourse must be at least 50 feet wide and 3,200 feet in
460 length. The training facility may include riding arenas, viewing
461 stands, pastures, grooming and veterinary care areas, and
462 related amenities. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
463 such training center may not operate a cardroom, and such
464 permitholder operating the training center may not be issued a
465 cardroom operating license unless such permitholder held a valid
466 cardroom license issued before January 1, 2026. Notwithstanding
467 any other provision of law, such training center may not operate
468 a slot machine facility, and such permitholder operating the
469 training center may not be issued a slot machine facility
470 operating license.
471 (e) A permit converted under this section and a license
472 issued to the not-for-profit corporation under chapter 849 are
473 not eligible for transfer to another person or entity.
474 (4) In order to foster and protect the statewide
475 importance and impact of thoroughbred racing and breeding
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476 throughout the state, the commission may adopt rules for the
477 licensing and oversight of thoroughbred training centers in
478 Florida which host live thoroughbred racing in conjunction with
479 their training activities. Racing at such facilities shall only
480 be conducted by a permit converted under this section that has
481 provided sufficient evidence to the commission that the
482 governance of the not-for-profit corporation is controlled by
483 board comprised of three appointees from owner of the training
484 center, an individual appointed by the chair of the commission,
485 and an individual appointed by the Commissioner of the
486 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The board
487 members may expand the board membership and make additional
488 appointments to the board from time to time pursuant to the
489 bylaws of the corporation.
490 (5) The Legislature finds and declares that it has
491 exclusive preemptive authority over the conduct of all aspects
492 of the business operations conducted at licensed thoroughbred
493 training centers authorized under this section to conduct pari-
494 mutuel wagering activities at such facilities, including, but
495 not limited to, the regulation of all equestrian activities, all
496 wagering activities, and land use. As provided by law, only the
497 commission shall administer this section and regulate the
498 equestrian and pari-mutuel wagering activities conduced at, and
499 land use applicable to, licensed thoroughbred training centers
500 as authorized in this section and the rules adopted by the
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501 commission with respect thereto. Any provision of a local law, a
502 charter, an ordinance, a resolution, a regulation, a policy, an
503 initiative, or a referendum which is in conflict with this
504 section and which existed before, on, or after July 1, 2026, is
505 prohibited, void, and expressly preempted to the state.
506 Section 10. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) and paragraphs
507 (a) and (b) of subsection (6) of section 550.3551, Florida
508 Statutes, are amended to read:
509 550.3551 Transmission of racing and jai alai information;
510 commingling of pari-mutuel pools.—
511 (3) Any horse track licensed under this chapter may
512 receive broadcasts of horseraces conducted at other horse
513 racetracks located outside this state at the racetrack enclosure
514 of the licensee, if the horse track conducted a full schedule of
515 live racing during the preceding state fiscal year, or if the
516 horse track does not conduct live racing as authorized under s.
517 550.01215.
518 (c) All forms of pari-mutuel wagering are allowed on races
519 broadcast under this section, and all money wagered by patrons
520 on such races shall be computed as part of the total amount of
521 money wagered at each racing performance for purposes of
522 taxation under ss. 550.0951, 550.09512, and 550.09515. Section
523 550.2625(2)(a), (b), and (c) does not apply to any money wagered
524 on races broadcast under this section. Similarly, The takeout
525 shall be increased by breaks and uncashed tickets for wagers on
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526 races broadcast under this section, notwithstanding any contrary
527 provision of this chapter.
528 (6)(a) A permitholder conducting live races or games may
529 not conduct fewer than eight live races or games on any
530 authorized race day except as provided in this subsection. A
531 thoroughbred permitholder may not conduct fewer than eight live
532 races on any race day without the written approval of the
533 Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' Association and the Florida
534 Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, Inc., unless
535 it is determined by the commission that another entity that
536 represents a majority of the thoroughbred racehorse owners and
537 trainers conducting racing during the licensed meet in the
538 state. If conducting live racing, a harness permitholder may
539 conduct fewer than eight live races on any authorized race day.
540 Any harness horse permitholder may receive full-card broadcasts
541 of harness horse races conducted at harness racetracks outside
542 this state at the harness track of the permitholder and accept
543 wagers on such harness races.
544 (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter,
545 any harness horse permitholder accepting broadcasts of out-of-
546 state harness horse races when such permitholder is not
547 conducting live races must make the out-of-state signal
548 available to all permitholders eligible to conduct intertrack
549 wagering and shall pay to guest tracks located as specified in
550 ss. 550.615(6) and 550.6305(9)(d) 50 percent of the net proceeds
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551 after taxes and fees to the out-of-state host track on harness
552 race wagers which they accept. A harness horse permitholder
553 shall be required to pay into its purse account 50 percent of
554 the net income retained by the permitholder on account of
555 wagering on the out-of-state broadcasts received pursuant to
556 this subsection. Nine-tenths of a percent of all harness
557 wagering proceeds on the broadcasts received pursuant to this
558 subsection shall be paid to the Florida Standardbred Breeders
559 and Owners Association under the provisions of s. 550.2625(4)
560 for the purposes provided therein.
561 Section 11. Section 550.625, Florida Statutes, is
562 repealed.
563 Section 12. Paragraphs (a), (b), and (e) of subsection (9)
564 of section 550.6305, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
565 550.6305 Intertrack wagering; guest track payments;
566 accounting rules.—
567 (9) A host track that has contracted with an out-of-state
568 horse track to broadcast live races conducted at such out-of-
569 state horse track pursuant to s. 550.3551(5) may broadcast such
570 out-of-state races to any guest track and accept wagers thereon
571 in the same manner as is provided in s. 550.3551.
572 (a) For purposes of this section, "net proceeds" means the
573 amount of takeout remaining after the payment of state taxes,
574 purses required pursuant to s. 550.0951(3)(c)1., the cost to the
575 permitholder required to be paid to the out-of-state horse
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576 track, and breeders' awards paid to the commission Florida
577 Thoroughbred Breeders' Association and the Florida Standardbred
578 Breeders and Owners Association, to be used as set forth in this
579 chapter s. 550.625(2)(a) and (b).
580 (b) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the
581 contrary the provisions of subsection (1) and s. 550.625(1) and
582 (2)(a), the distribution of the net proceeds that are retained
583 by a thoroughbred host track from the takeout on an out-of-state
584 race rebroadcast under this subsection shall be as follows:
585 1. One-third of the remainder of such proceeds shall be
586 paid to the guest track;
587 2. One-third of the remainder of such proceeds shall be
588 retained by the host track; and
589 3. One-third of the remainder of such proceeds shall be
590 paid by the host track as purses at the host track.
591 (e) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the
592 contrary the provisions of subsection (1) and s. 550.625(1) and
593 (2)(b), the proceeds that are retained by a harness host
594 facility from the takeout on a race broadcast under this
595 subsection shall be distributed as follows:
596 1. Of the total intertrack handle on the broadcast, 1
597 percent shall be deducted from the proceeds and paid to the
598 Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association, Inc., to
599 be used as set forth in s. 550.625(2)(b);
600 2. One-third of the remainder of such proceeds shall be
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601 paid to the guest facility;
602 3. One-third of the remainder of such proceeds shall be
603 retained by the host facility; and
604 4. One-third of the remainder of said proceeds shall be
605 paid by the host facility as purses at the host facility.
606 Section 13. Paragraphs (d) through (j) of subsection (4)
607 of section 551.104, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
608 paragraphs (c) through (i), respectively, and paragraph (c) of
609 subsection (4) and subsection (10) of that section are amended
610 to read:
611 551.104 License to conduct slot machine gaming.—
612 (4) As a condition of licensure and to maintain continued
613 authority for the conduct of slot machine gaming, the slot
614 machine licensee shall:
615 (c) If a thoroughbred permitholder, conduct no fewer than
616 a full schedule of live racing or games as defined in s.
617 550.002(10). A permitholder's responsibility to conduct live
618 races or games shall be reduced by the number of races or games
619 that could not be conducted due to the direct result of fire,
620 strike, war, hurricane, pandemic, or other disaster or event
621 beyond the control of the permitholder. Beginning July 1, 2025,
622 each thoroughbred permitholder in compliance with this chapter
623 is not required to pay an annual license fee to the commission
624 as a condition of renewal.
625 (10)(a)1. No slot machine license or renewal thereof shall
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626 be issued to an applicant holding a permit under chapter 550 to
627 conduct pari-mutuel wagering meets of thoroughbred racing unless
628 the applicant has on file with the commission a binding written
629 agreement between the applicant and the Florida Horsemen's
630 Benevolent and Protective Association, Inc., governing the
631 payment of purses on live thoroughbred races conducted at the
632 licensee's pari-mutuel facility. In addition, no slot machine
633 license or renewal thereof shall be issued to such an applicant
634 unless the applicant has on file with the commission a binding
635 written agreement between the applicant and the Florida
636 Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, Inc., governing the payment
637 of breeders', stallion, and special racing awards on live
638 thoroughbred races conducted at the licensee's pari-mutuel
639 facility. The agreement governing purses and the agreement
640 governing awards may direct the payment of such purses and
641 awards from revenues generated by any wagering or gaming the
642 applicant is authorized to conduct under Florida law. All purses
643 and awards shall be subject to the terms of chapter 550. All
644 sums for breeders', stallion, and special racing awards shall be
645 remitted monthly to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders'
646 Association, Inc., for the payment of awards subject to the
647 administrative fee authorized in s. 550.2625(3).
648 2. No slot machine license or renewal thereof shall be
649 issued to an applicant holding a permit under chapter 550 to
650 conduct pari-mutuel wagering meets of quarter horse racing
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651 unless the applicant has on file with the commission a binding
652 written agreement between the applicant and the Florida Quarter
653 Horse Racing Association or the association representing a
654 majority of the horse owners and trainers at the applicant's
655 eligible facility, governing the payment of purses on live
656 quarter horse races conducted at the licensee's pari-mutuel
657 facility. The agreement governing purses may direct the payment
658 of such purses from revenues generated by any wagering or gaming
659 the applicant is authorized to conduct under Florida law. All
660 purses shall be subject to the terms of chapter 550.
661 (b) The commission shall suspend a slot machine license if
662 one or more of the agreements required under paragraph (a) are
663 terminated or otherwise cease to operate or if the commission
664 determines that the licensee is materially failing to comply
665 with the terms of such an agreement. Any such suspension shall
666 take place in accordance with chapter 120.
667 (c)1. If an agreement required under paragraph (a) cannot
668 be reached prior to the initial issuance of the slot machine
669 license, either party may request arbitration or, in the case of
670 a renewal, if an agreement required under paragraph (a) is not
671 in place 120 days prior to the scheduled expiration date of the
672 slot machine license, the applicant shall immediately ask the
673 American Arbitration Association to furnish a list of 11
674 arbitrators, each of whom shall have at least 5 years of
675 commercial arbitration experience and no financial interest in
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676 or prior relationship with any of the parties or their
677 affiliated or related entities or principals. Each required
678 party to the agreement shall select a single arbitrator from the
679 list provided by the American Arbitration Association within 10
680 days of receipt, and the individuals so selected shall choose
681 one additional arbitrator from the list within the next 10 days.
682 2. If an agreement required under paragraph (a) is not in
683 place 60 days after the request under subparagraph 1. in the
684 case of an initial slot machine license or, in the case of a
685 renewal, 60 days prior to the scheduled expiration date of the
686 slot machine license, the matter shall be immediately submitted
687 to mandatory binding arbitration to resolve the disagreement
688 between the parties. The three arbitrators selected pursuant to
689 subparagraph 1. shall constitute the panel that shall arbitrate
690 the dispute between the parties pursuant to the American
691 Arbitration Association Commercial Arbitration Rules and chapter
692 682.
693 3. At the conclusion of the proceedings, which shall be no
694 later than 90 days after the request under subparagraph 1. in
695 the case of an initial slot machine license or, in the case of a
696 renewal, 30 days prior to the scheduled expiration date of the
697 slot machine license, the arbitration panel shall present to the
698 parties a proposed agreement that the majority of the panel
699 believes equitably balances the rights, interests, obligations,
700 and reasonable expectations of the parties. The parties shall
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701 immediately enter into such agreement, which shall satisfy the
702 requirements of paragraph (a) and permit issuance of the pending
703 annual slot machine license or renewal. The agreement produced
704 by the arbitration panel under this subparagraph shall be
705 effective until the last day of the license or renewal period or
706 until the parties enter into a different agreement. Each party
707 shall pay its respective costs of arbitration and shall pay one-
708 half of the costs of the arbitration panel, unless the parties
709 otherwise agree. If the agreement produced by the arbitration
710 panel under this subparagraph remains in place 120 days prior to
711 the scheduled issuance of the next annual license renewal, then
712 the arbitration process established in this paragraph will begin
713 again.
714 4. In the event that neither of the agreements required
715 under subparagraph (a)1. or the agreement required under
716 subparagraph (a)2. are in place by the deadlines established in
717 this paragraph, arbitration regarding each agreement will
718 proceed independently, with separate lists of arbitrators,
719 arbitration panels, arbitration proceedings, and resulting
720 agreements.
721 5. With respect to the agreements required under paragraph
722 (a) governing the payment of purses, the arbitration and
723 resulting agreement called for under this paragraph shall be
724 limited to the payment of purses from slot machine revenues
725 only.
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726 (d) If any provision of this subsection or its application
727 to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity
728 does not affect other provisions or applications of this
729 subsection or chapter which can be given effect without the
730 invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions
731 of this subsection are severable.
732 Section 14. Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) and paragraph
733 (d) of subsection (13) of section 849.086, Florida Statutes, are
734 amended to read:
735 849.086 Cardrooms authorized.—
736 (5) LICENSE REQUIRED; APPLICATION; FEES.—No person may
737 operate a cardroom in this state unless such person holds a
738 valid cardroom license issued pursuant to this section.
739 (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a pari-
740 mutuel permitholder, other than a permitholder issued a permit
741 pursuant to s. 550.3345 or a purchaser, transferee, or assignee
742 holding a valid permit for the conduct of pari-mutuel wagering
743 approved pursuant to s. 550.054(15)(a), may not be issued a
744 license for the operation of a cardroom if the permitholder did
745 not hold an operating license for the conduct of pari-mutuel
746 wagering for fiscal year 2020-2021. In order for an initial
747 cardroom license to be issued to a thoroughbred permitholder
748 issued a permit pursuant to s. 550.3345, the applicant must have
749 requested, as part of its pari-mutuel annual license
750 application, to conduct at least a full schedule of live racing.
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751 In order for a cardroom license to be renewed by a thoroughbred
752 permitholder, the applicant must have requested, as part of its
753 pari-mutuel annual license application, to conduct at least 90
754 percent of the total number of live performances conducted by
755 such permitholder during either the state fiscal year in which
756 its initial cardroom license was issued or the state fiscal year
757 immediately prior thereto if the permitholder ran at least a
758 full schedule of live racing or games in the prior year.
759 (13) TAXES AND OTHER PAYMENTS.—
760 (d)1. Each jai alai permitholder that conducts live
761 performances and operates a cardroom facility shall use at least
762 4 percent of such permitholder's cardroom monthly gross receipts
763 to supplement jai alai prize money during the permitholder's
764 next ensuing pari-mutuel meet.
765 2. Each thoroughbred permitholder or harness horse racing
766 permitholder that conducts live performances and operates a
767 cardroom facility shall use at least 50 percent of such
768 permitholder's cardroom monthly net proceeds as follows: 47
769 percent to supplement purses and 3 percent to supplement
770 breeders' awards during the permitholder's next ensuing racing
771 meet.
772 2.3. No cardroom license or renewal thereof shall be
773 issued to an applicant holding a permit under chapter 550 to
774 conduct pari-mutuel wagering meets of quarter horse racing and
775 conducting live performances unless the applicant has on file
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776 with the commission a binding written agreement between the
777 applicant and the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association or
778 the association representing a majority of the horse owners and
779 trainers at the applicant's eligible facility, governing the
780 payment of purses on live quarter horse races conducted at the
781 licensee's pari-mutuel facility. The agreement governing purses
782 may direct the payment of such purses from revenues generated by
783 any wagering or gaming the applicant is authorized to conduct
784 under Florida law. All purses shall be subject to the terms of
785 chapter 550.
786 Section 15. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
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