# Virginia SB159: Pari-mutuel wagering; historical horse racing, percentage retained for distribution.

Virginia SB159, Pari-mutuel wagering; historical horse racing, percentage retained for distribution., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Russet Perry (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-02-03 (Continued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 2-N)) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB159-2026
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB159
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Pari-mutuel wagering; historical horse racing, percentage retained for distribution.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-07
- Last action: 2026-02-03, Continued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 2-N)
- Sponsor: Russet Perry (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Finance and Appropriations
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (28 yes, 2 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Pari-mutuel wagering; historical horse racing; percentage retained for distribution. Provides that with respect to all authorized historical horse racing terminals, of the amount that a horse racing licensee retains from wagering on historical horse racing pools and in addition to the current distribution required under law, 0.025 percent each shall be distributed to the Shenandoah County Agricultural Foundation and the Great Meadow Foundation to support the promotion, education, maintenance, and safety of horse racing at such facilities. The bill also increases the distribution percentage provided from the amount that a horse racing licensee retains from wagering on historical horse racing pools to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund from 0.01 percent to 0.025 percent.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Russet Perry (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Continued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations | pass | 13 | 2 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | Senate | Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (7)

- 2026-02-03: Continued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 2-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB159) (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Assigned GL&T sub: Gaming (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Senate subcommittee offered (Senate)
- 2026-01-07: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate)
- 2026-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101993D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Amendment, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1102049.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-01-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094819.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095255.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083598.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083597.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1102049.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094819.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095255.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083598.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083597.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB159-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).