All Roll Calls
Yes: 268 • No: 58
KansasSB 212025–2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Amending the Kansas parimutuel racing act regarding qualifications for an organization license, the definition of horsemen's associations and horsemen's nonprofit organizations and the distribution of certain tax revenues.
Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable
Signed by Governor
insurancefinancial institutions and insurance
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 4 costs, 3 mixed.
Audits, financing checks, and tougher penalties
Facility owners and managers face yearly reviews and must file a public, independent CPA audit each year. If a license allows construction, the license only issues after a timely, approved financing commitment; if not filed on time, the license expires. The commission can fine up to $10,000 per violation and gives 30 days to fix curable issues before suspension or revocation. If a dual racetrack is not finished on time, the fine is 5% of all parimutuel pools from when wagering started until completion, and the license can be revoked unless there is reasonable cause.
Big deposits and fees for facilities
Applying for a facility owner or facility manager license costs a nonrefundable $5,000. The commission can require more to cover processing and investigations, and refunds any overage. If you plan to build a racetrack, you must deposit $500,000 when 150+ racing days are requested, or $250,000 for fewer than 150 days. State or local applicants may owe a smaller deposit set by the commission. Deposits are refunded if the application is denied or the project is completed as required, and are forfeited if the project is not completed.
Where wagering tax money now goes
One-third of the taxes on simulcast race takeout goes to the horse fair racing benefit fund. Beginning on or before July 15, 2025, and on the 15th each month, 30% of historical horse race wager tax revenues (after operating costs) go to the Kansas horse breeding development fund, and 70% go to the horse fair racing benefit fund.
Rules and bans for race machines
Historical horse race machines must use real race data to decide results and cannot use random number generators. Machines must be linked to a central computer chosen by the commission for security and audits. Horsemen’s nonprofit licensees cannot operate these machines. If a horsemen’s association owns a facility, it also cannot operate these machines at that track.
Stricter licensing rules for racetrack operators
The law tightens who can get facility owner and manager licenses. Owner applicants must already own a track or file detailed construction plans with proven financing. Manager applicants must have a signed contract with a licensed organization. Licenses can be denied for bans in other states, race-fixing or gambling crimes, certain felonies, false statements, poor finances, undisclosed 10% ownership options, or unpaid taxes. A manager license also fails if the applicant or any director, officer, employee, or agent is addicted to and uses alcohol or a controlled drug.
How racing funds can be used
Up to 25% of the horse fair racing fund can pay for capital improvements at fairground tracks after application. Up to 15% can support nonprofit promotion of the industry. The rest can cover listed costs like administrative reimbursements, totalisator, background checks, leases, purse supplements, operating grants, and officials’ pay. The commission sets distribution rules. Money tied to a race meeting cannot support more than 40 days, and funds cannot support parimutuel greyhound racing unless at least as many parimutuel horse races are run. The horse breeding development fund splits money by breed participation and pays purse supplements, stakes and awards, stallion and breeder awards (with a limit if the stallion served outside Kansas), and equine research at state colleges.
New rules for fair and nonprofit racing
Fair associations, certain horsemen’s nonprofits, and the national greyhound association of Abilene face limits: no more than two race meetings a year, in their home county, and no more than 40 race days total. The commission may charge up to $50 to apply and $25 per approved racing day. Fairs must submit approval from the Kansas quarter horse and thoroughbred associations or from a horsemen’s nonprofit. The commission must make licensing simpler and cheaper for fairs and horsemen’s nonprofits, but it will run background checks on key officers and members. Horsemen’s nonprofits cannot run live horse races before March 1, 2028, unless the races are at Eureka Downs.
Who qualifies as horsemen groups
The law narrows which groups count as horsemen’s associations and horsemen’s nonprofits. Leaders and members must be licensed horse owners or trainers. Associations must seek or hold a facility owner license for Eureka Downs, Anthony Downs, or a track on or next to fair grounds, and they cannot have overlapping ownership of another facility owner. Nonprofits must seek or hold an organization license for races at those same venues.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 90 Nay: 35
Yes: 90 • No: 35
Senate vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 101 Nay: 20
Yes: 101 • No: 20
Senate vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 40 Nay: 0
Yes: 40 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 37 Nay: 3
Yes: 37 • No: 3
Actions Timeline
Enrolled and presented to Governor on Friday, April 4, 2025
4/10/2025SenateApproved by Governor on Tuesday, April 8, 2025
4/10/2025SenateConference committee report now available
3/27/2025HouseConference Committee Report was adopted; Yea: 90 Nay: 35
3/27/2025HouseConference Committee Report was adopted; Yea: 37 Nay: 3
3/27/2025SenateRepresentative Kessler, Representative Schmoe, and Representative Miller are appointed to replace Representative Sutton, Representative Bergkamp, and Representative Neighbor on the Conference Committee
3/26/2025HouseSenator Thompson, Senator Blew, and Senator Faust Goudeau are appointed to replace Senator Dietrich, Senator Fagg, and Senator Francisco on the Conference Committee
3/24/2025SenateMotion to accede adopted; Representative Sutton, Representative Bergkamp and Representative Neighbor appointed as conferees
3/11/2025HouseNonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Senator Dietrich , Senator Fagg and Senator Francisco as conferees
3/10/2025SenateCommittee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
3/7/2025HouseCommittee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
3/7/2025HouseEmergency Final Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 101 Nay: 20
3/7/2025HouseCommittee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Committee on Insurance
3/4/2025HouseHearing: Monday, March 3, 2025, 3:30 PM Room 218-N
3/3/2025HouseReceived and Introduced
2/25/2025HouseReferred to Committee on Insurance
2/25/2025HouseFinal Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 40 Nay: 0
2/19/2025SenateCommittee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
2/18/2025SenateCommittee of the Whole - Be passed as amended
2/18/2025SenateCommittee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance
2/5/2025SenateHearing: Tuesday, January 28, 2025, 9:30 AM Room 546-S
1/28/2025SenateReferred to Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance
1/17/2025SenateIntroduced
1/16/2025Senate
Bill Text
As Amended by House Committee
As Amended by Senate Committee
As introduced
Enrolled
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