THE BILL ITSELF
SB 1564
Thoroughbred Permitholders
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1564 By Senator DiCeglie 18-00404A-26 20261564__
1
A bill to be entitled
2
An act relating to thoroughbred permitholders;
3
amending s. 550.01215, F.S.; providing that a
4
thoroughbred permitholder may elect not to, rather
5
than be required to, conduct live racing or games;
6
providing that a thoroughbred permitholder that does
7
not conduct live racing or games retains its permit,
8
remains a pari-mutuel facility, remains an eligible
9
facility if issued a slot machine license, and is
10
eligible to be a guest track and a host track;
11
providing that a greyhound permitholder, jai alai
12
permitholder, harness horse racing permitholder,
13
quarter horse racing permitholder, and thoroughbred
14
permitholder are exempt from certain licensing and
15
application fees for operating a cardroom; requiring a
16
thoroughbred permitholder that operates a slot machine
17
facility or cardroom to offer a full schedule of live
18
racing until the permitholder notifies the Florida
19
Gaming Control Commission that it will no longer offer
20
live racing; providing that such notice is not valid
21
unless delivered to the commission on or after a
22
specified date; specifying requirements for such
23
notice; providing that a permitholder is not required
24
to deliver such notice if authorized by the commission
25
to relocate; amending s. 550.054, F.S.; authorizing,
26
rather than prohibiting, the transfer or reissuance of
27
a thoroughbred horse racing permit or license under
28
certain circumstances; deleting exceptions in which a
29
thoroughbred horse racing licensee may change the
30
location of the licensee’s thoroughbred horse
31
racetrack; amending s. 550.09515, F.S.; providing that
32
the permit of a thoroughbred permitholder who conducts
33
live performances and does not pay taxes for a certain
34
time is void; reenacting and amending s. 550.3345,
35
F.S.; providing that certain members of a certain not
36
for-profit corporation be designated by the
37
commission, rather than the Florida Thoroughbred
38
Breeders’ Association; providing that the not-for
39
profit corporation may move the location of a permit
40
to another location in a different county which has
41
been previously authorized for pari-mutuel wagering;
42
amending s. 550.475, F.S.; providing that holders of
43
pari-mutuel permits for pari-mutuel wagering may lease
44
any of the facilities of a thoroughbred training
45
facility holding a valid license; revising the
46
geographic area within which a pari-mutuel
47
permitholder may lease its facilities to certain
48
persons and permitholders; prohibiting a thoroughbred
49
permitholder relocation from operating a cardroom at a
50
leased training facility; providing that a lessor of a
51
pari-mutuel facility that has been issued a slot
52
machine license or a cardroom license is an eligible
53
facility; amending s. 550.5251, F.S.; requiring that
54
thoroughbred permitholders required to offer live
55
racing, rather than all thoroughbred permitholders,
56
must annually file with the commission an application
57
to conduct one or more thoroughbred racing meetings
58
during the thoroughbred racing season; reenacting s.
59
550.615(2) and (8), F.S., relating to intertrack
60
wagering, to incorporate the amendments made to ss.
61
550.01215 and 550.475, F.S., in references thereto;
62
providing an effective date.
64
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
66
Section 1. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of
67
section 550.01215, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
68
550.01215 License application; periods of operation;
69
license fees; bond.—
70
(1) Each permitholder shall annually, during the period
71
between January 15 and February 4, file in writing with the
72
commission its application for an operating license for a pari
73
mutuel facility for the conduct of pari-mutuel wagering during
74
the next state fiscal year, including intertrack and simulcast
75
race wagering. Each application for live performances must
76
specify the number, dates, and starting times of all live
77
performances that the permitholder intends to conduct. It must
78
also specify which performances will be conducted as charity or
79
scholarship performances.
80
(a) Each application for an operating license also must
81
include:
82
1. For each permitholder, whether the permitholder intends
83
to accept wagers on intertrack or simulcast events.
84
2. For each permitholder that elects to operate a cardroom,
85
the dates and periods of operation the permitholder intends to
86
operate the cardroom.
87
3. For each thoroughbred racing permitholder that elects to
88
receive or rebroadcast out-of-state races, the dates for all
89
performances that the permitholder intends to conduct.
90
(b)1. A greyhound permitholder may not conduct live racing.
91
A jai alai permitholder, harness horse racing permitholder,
92
thoroughbred permitholder, or quarter horse racing permitholder
93
may elect not to conduct live racing or games. A thoroughbred
94
permitholder must conduct live racing. A greyhound permitholder,
95
jai alai permitholder, harness horse racing permitholder, or
96
quarter horse racing permitholder , or thoroughbred permitholder
97
that does not conduct live racing or games retains its permit;
98
is a pari-mutuel facility as defined in s. 550.002(23); if such
99
permitholder has been issued a slot machine license, the
100
facility where such permit is located remains an eligible
101
facility as defined in s. 551.102(4), continues to be eligible
102
for a slot machine license pursuant to s. 551.104(3), and is
103
exempt from ss. 551.104(4)(c) and (10) and 551.114(2); is
104
eligible, but not required, to be a guest track and, if the
105
permitholder is a harness horse racing permitholder, to be a
106
host track for purposes of intertrack wagering and simulcasting
107
pursuant to ss. 550.3551, 550.615, 550.625, and 550.6305; and
108
remains eligible for a cardroom license , and is exempt from s.
109
849.086(5)(c) and (13)(d)2. A thoroughbred permitholder that
110
operates a slot machine facility or cardroom must offer a full
111
schedule of live racing until such permitholder notifies the
112
commission that it will no longer offer live racing. Notice
113
under this paragraph is not valid unless delivered to the
114
commission on or after July 1, 2027. Such notice must contain
115
the date on which the permitholder will no longer offer live
116
racing, which may be no earlier than a date 3 years after the
117
date of the notice. A permitholder is not required to deliver
118
such notice when relocating pursuant to s. 550.3345(2)(d) or s.
119
550.475 with authorization by the commission in accordance with
120
s. 550.054 .
121
2. A permitholder or licensee may not conduct live
122
greyhound racing or dogracing in connection with any wager for
123
money or any other thing of value in the state. The commission
124
may deny, suspend, or revoke any permit or license under this
125
chapter if a permitholder or licensee conducts live greyhound
126
racing or dogracing in violation of this subparagraph. In
127
addition to, or in lieu of, denial, suspension, or revocation of
128
such permit or license, the commission may impose a civil
129
penalty of up to $5,000 against the permitholder or licensee for
130
a violation of this subparagraph. All penalties imposed and
131
collected must be deposited with the Chief Financial Officer to
132
the credit of the General Revenue Fund.
133
Section 2. Subsection (13) and paragraph (b) of subsection
134
(14) of section 550.054, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
135
550.054 Application for permit to conduct pari-mutuel
136
wagering.—
137
(13) (a) Notwithstanding any provisions of this chapter to
138
the contrary , a no thoroughbred horse racing permit or license
139
issued under this chapter may shall be transferred , or reissued
140
when such reissuance is in the nature of a transfer so as to
141
permit or authorize a licensee to change the location of a
142
thoroughbred horse racetrack except upon authorization by proof
143
in such form as the commission may prescribe that a referendum
144
election has been held:
145
1. If the proposed new location is within the same county
146
as the already licensed location, in the county where the
147
licensee desires to conduct the race meeting and that a majority
148
of the electors voting on that question in such election voted
149
in favor of the transfer of such license .
150
2. If the proposed new location is not within the same
151
county as the already licensed location, in the county where the
152
licensee desires to conduct the race meeting and in the county
153
where the licensee is already licensed to conduct the race
154
meeting and that a majority of the electors voting on that
155
question in each such election voted in favor of the transfer of
156
such license.
157
(b) Each referendum held under the provisions of this
158
subsection shall be held in accordance with the electoral
159
procedures for ratification of permits, as provided in s.
160
550.0651. The expense of each such referendum shall be borne by
161
the licensee requesting the transfer.
162
(14)
163
(b) The commission, upon application from the holder of a
164
jai alai permit meeting all conditions of this section, shall
165
convert the permit and shall issue to the permitholder a permit
166
to conduct greyhound racing. A permitholder of a permit
167
converted under this section is shall be required to apply for
168
and conduct a full schedule of live racing each fiscal year to
169
be eligible for any tax credit provided by this chapter. The
170
holder of a permit converted pursuant to this subsection or any
171
holder of a permit to conduct greyhound racing located in a
172
county in which it is the only permit issued pursuant to this
173
section who operates at a leased facility pursuant to s. 550.475
174
may move the location for which the permit has been issued to
175
another location within a 30-mile radius of the location fixed
176
in the permit issued in that county, provided the move does not
177
cross the county boundary and such location is approved under
178
the zoning regulations of the county or municipality in which
179
the permit is located, and upon such relocation may use the
180
permit for the conduct of pari-mutuel wagering and the operation
181
of a cardroom. The provisions of s. 550.6305(9)(d) and (f) shall
182
apply to any permit converted under this subsection and shall
183
continue to apply to any permit which was previously included
184
under and subject to such provisions before a conversion
185
pursuant to this section occurred.
186
Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
187
550.09515, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
188
550.09515 Thoroughbred horse taxes; abandoned interest in a
189
permit for nonpayment of taxes.—
190
(3)(a) The permit of a thoroughbred horse permitholder who
191
conducts live thoroughbred performances and does not pay tax on
192
handle for live thoroughbred horse performances for a full
193
schedule of live races during any 2 consecutive state fiscal
194
years is shall be void and must shall escheat to and become the
195
property of the state unless such failure to operate and pay tax
196
on handle was the direct result of fire, strike, war, or other
197
disaster or event beyond the ability of the permitholder to
198
control. Financial hardship to the permitholder does shall not,
199
in and of itself, constitute just cause for failure to operate
200
and pay tax on handle.
201
Section 4. Subsection (2) of section 550.3345, Florida
202
Statutes, is amended, and subsection (3) of that section is
203
reenacted, to read:
204
550.3345 Conversion of quarter horse permit to a limited
205
thoroughbred permit.—
206
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the holder
207
of a quarter horse racing permit issued under s. 550.334 may,
208
within 1 year after the effective date of this section, apply to
209
the commission for a transfer of the quarter horse racing permit
210
to a not-for-profit corporation formed under state law to serve
211
the purposes of the state as provided in subsection (1). The
212
board of directors of the not-for-profit corporation shall
213
consist must be comprised of 11 members, 4 of whom shall be
214
designated by the applicant, 4 of whom shall be designated by
215
the commission Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association , and 3
216
of whom shall be designated by the other 8 directors, with at
217
least 1 of these 3 members being an authorized representative of
218
another thoroughbred permitholder in this state. The not-for
219
profit corporation shall submit an application to the commission
220
for review and approval of the transfer in accordance with s.
221
550.054. Upon approval of the transfer by the commission, and
222
notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
223
not-for-profit corporation may, within 1 year after its receipt
224
of the permit, request that the commission convert the quarter
225
horse racing permit to a permit authorizing the holder to
226
conduct pari-mutuel wagering meets of thoroughbred racing.
227
Neither The transfer of the quarter horse racing permit or nor
228
its conversion to a limited thoroughbred permit may not shall be
229
subject to the mileage limitation or the ratification election
230
as set forth under s. 550.054(2) or s. 550.0651. Upon receipt of
231
the request for such conversion, the commission shall timely
232
issue a converted permit. The converted permit and the not-for
233
profit corporation is shall be subject to the following
234
requirements:
235
(a) All net revenues derived by the not-for-profit
236
corporation under the thoroughbred horse racing permit and any
237
license issued to the not-for-profit corporation under chapter
238
849, after the funding of operating expenses and capital
239
improvements, must shall be dedicated to the enhancement of
240
thoroughbred purses and breeders’, stallion, and special racing
241
awards under this chapter; the general promotion of the
242
thoroughbred horse breeding industry; and the care in this state
243
of thoroughbred horses retired from racing.
244
(b) From December 1 through April 30, no live thoroughbred
245
racing may not be conducted under the permit on any day during
246
which another thoroughbred permitholder is conducting live
247
thoroughbred racing within 125 air miles of the not-for-profit
248
corporation’s pari-mutuel facility unless the other thoroughbred
249
permitholder gives its written consent.
250
(c) After the conversion of the quarter horse racing permit
251
and the issuance of its initial license to conduct pari-mutuel
252
wagering meets of thoroughbred racing, the not-for-profit
253
corporation shall annually apply to the commission for a license
254
pursuant to s. 550.5251.
255
(d) Racing under the permit may take place only at the
256
location for which the original quarter horse racing permit was
257
issued, which may be leased by the not-for-profit corporation
258
for that purpose; however, the not-for-profit corporation may,
259
without the conduct of any ratification election pursuant to s.
260
550.054(13) or s. 550.0651, move the location of the permit to
261
another location in the same county , or a location in a
262
different county which has been previously authorized for pari
263
mutuel wagering, provided that such relocation is approved under
264
the zoning and land use regulations of the applicable county or
265
municipality.
266
(e) A permit converted under this section and a license
267
issued to the not-for-profit corporation under chapter 849 are
268
not eligible for transfer to another person or entity.
269
(3) Unless otherwise provided in this section, after
270
conversion, the permit and the not-for-profit corporation shall
271
be treated under the laws of this state as a thoroughbred permit
272
and as a thoroughbred permitholder, respectively, with the
273
exception of ss. 550.09515(3) and 550.6308.
274
Section 5. Section 550.475, Florida Statutes, is amended to
275
read:
276
550.475 Lease of pari-mutuel facilities by pari-mutuel
277
permitholders.—Holders of valid pari-mutuel permits for the
278
conduct of any pari-mutuel wagering in this state may are
279
entitled to lease any and all of the their facilities of to any
280
other holder of a same class valid pari-mutuel permit or a
281
thoroughbred training facility holding a valid license issued by
282
the commission , when located within a 50-mile 35-mile radius of
283
each other; and such lessee is entitled to a permit and license
284
to conduct intertrack wagering and operate its race meet or jai
285
alai games at the leased premises. A thoroughbred permitholder
286
relocation pursuant to s. 550.3345(2)(d) or this section, in
287
accordance with s. 550.054, may not operate a cardroom at a
288
leased training facility. Notwithstanding any other law, the
289
lessor of a pari-mutuel facility that has been issued a slot
290
machine license or a cardroom license is an eligible facility as
291
defined in s. 551.102.
292
Section 6. Subsection (1) of section 550.5251, Florida
293
Statutes, is amended to read:
294
550.5251 Florida thoroughbred racing; certain permits;
295
operating days.—
296
(1) Each thoroughbred permitholder required to offer live
297
racing must shall annually, during the period commencing January
298
15 of each year and ending February 4 of the following year,
299
file in writing with the commission its application to conduct
300
one or more thoroughbred racing meetings during the thoroughbred
301
racing season commencing on the following July 1. Each
302
application must shall specify the number and dates of all
303
performances that the permitholder intends to conduct during
304
that thoroughbred racing season. On or before April 15 of each
305
year, the commission shall issue a license authorizing each
306
permitholder to conduct performances on the dates specified in
307
its application. Up to March 28 of each year, each permitholder
308
may request and shall be granted changes in its application to
309
conduct performances; but thereafter, as a condition precedent
310
to the validity of its license and its right to retain its
311
permit, each permitholder must operate the full number of days
312
authorized on each of the dates set forth in its license.
313
Section 7. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
314
made by this act to sections 550.01215 and 550.475, Florida
315
Statutes, in references thereto, subsections (2) and (8) of
316
section 550.615, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
317
550.615 Intertrack wagering.—
318
(2) Except as provided in subsection (1), a pari-mutuel
319
permitholder that has met the applicable requirement for that
320
permitholder to conduct live racing or games under s.
321
550.01215(1)(b), if any, for fiscal year 2020-2021 is qualified
322
to, at any time, receive broadcasts of any class of pari-mutuel
323
race or game and accept wagers on such races or games conducted
324
by any class of permitholders licensed under this chapter.
325
(8) In any three contiguous counties of the state where
326
there are only three permitholders, all of which are greyhound
327
permitholders, if any permitholder leases the facility of
328
another permitholder for all or any portion of the conduct of
329
its live race meet pursuant to s. 550.475, such lessee may
330
conduct intertrack wagering at its pre-lease permitted facility
331
throughout the entire year.
332
Section 8. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.