PROVIDED SUMMARY
Pari-mutuel Wagering; Authorizes thoroughbred permitholders to elect not to conduct live racing; specifying that such permitholders retain certain permits, eligibility, exemptions, & licenses; revising penalties for permitholders who do not pay specified taxes; revising requirements for thoroughbred permitholders who have certain slot machines & cardroom licenses.
Full bill text →
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATED
Thoroughbred tracks may stop live racing while keeping slot and cardroom licenses.
Thoroughbred permitholders may now elect not to conduct live racing, matching the option already available to jai alai and harness tracks.
Tracks that stop live racing retain their pari-mutuel permit, slot machine license, and cardroom license without penalty.
The bill deletes the requirement that thoroughbred tracks pay 50% of cardroom net proceeds to horse racing purses and breeders' awards.
It also removes the requirement that thoroughbred tracks file binding purse agreements with horsemen's and breeders' associations to get slot licenses.
KEY PROVISIONS
AIThoroughbred permitholders can now choose not to run live races, just like jai alai and harness operators already could.
§ 2
Slot machine and cardroom licenses survive without live racing
majors. 550.01215(1)(b)
AIA thoroughbred track that stops live racing keeps its slot machine license and cardroom license, and stays an eligible facility for both.
§ 3
Purse and breeder award agreements no longer required for slot licenses
majors. 551.104(10)
AIThoroughbred permitholders no longer need binding written agreements with the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association or the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' Association to get or renew a slot machine license.
“No slot machine license or renewal thereof shall be issued to an applicant holding a permit under chapter 550 to conduct pari-mutuel wagering meets of thoroughbred racing unless”
bill text, line 152 →
§ 4
Cardroom license renewal no longer tied to live racing volume
majors. 849.086(5)(c)
AIThoroughbred permitholders renewing a cardroom license no longer must have requested at least 90 percent of the prior year's live performances in their pari-mutuel application.
“the applicant must have requested, as part of its pari-mutuel annual license application, to conduct at least 90 percent of the total number of live performances”
bill text, line 275 →
§ 5
Cardroom net proceeds no longer required to fund purses and breeder awards
majors. 849.086(13)(d)
AIThoroughbred and harness permitholders operating cardrooms no longer must use 50 percent of cardroom monthly net proceeds to supplement purses and breeders' awards.
“Each thoroughbred permitholder or harness horse racing permitholder that conducts live performances and operates a cardroom facility shall use at least 50 percent of such permithol”
bill text, line 292 →
§ 6
Unpaid live-race taxes void the permit instead of escheating it
moderates. 550.09515(3)(a)
AIIf a thoroughbred permitholder fails to pay live-race handle tax for two consecutive fiscal years, the permit is void and not reissued, rather than escheating to the state for reissuance to a new applicant.
§ 7
Live-race filing and Florida-bred preference apply only to those who race
moderates. 550.5251(1)
AIThe annual application to conduct live thoroughbred racing and the requirement to give Florida-bred horses entry preference now apply only to permitholders who elect to conduct live racing.
TIMELINE
2/12/2026
Referred to Rules
2/11/2026
CS passed; YEAS 77, NAYS 34
2/11/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
2/5/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/11/2026)
2/4/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/4/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
2/4/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/3/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/3/2026
Reported out of Commerce Committee
2/3/2026
Favorable with CS by Commerce Committee
1/30/2026
PCS added to Commerce Committee agenda
1/16/2026
Now in Commerce Committee
1/16/2026
Referred to Commerce Committee
1/15/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
1/14/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
1/14/2026
Reported out of Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee
1/14/2026
Favorable with CS by Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/12/2026
Added to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee agenda
1/5/2026
Now in Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee
1/5/2026
Referred to Commerce Committee
1/5/2026
Referred to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee
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STATUTES IT CHANGES
STAFF ANALYSES