# 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 2027 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Russet Perry (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-07-21 (Continued from last session) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB159-2027
- 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: 2027 Regular Session
- Title: Pari-mutuel wagering; historical horse racing, percentage retained for distribution.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-07
- Last action: 2026-07-21, Continued from last session
- Sponsor: Russet Perry (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Finance and Appropriations
- Touches household money: no
- 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

## Actions (8)

- 2026-07-21: Continued from last session (Senate)
- 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.virginia.gov/bill-details/20271/SB159)
- Introduced, 2026-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230484.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230483.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB844: Licensed clinical psychologists; prescriptive authority; report. (in committee)
- HB1535: Individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities; admissibility of statements. (introduced)
- HB1534: School service providers; deletion of student and family personal information. (introduced)
- SB843: Data centers; state permitting, local approval, moratorium, sunset. (in committee)
- SB842: High school student athletes; eligibility, enrollment. (in committee)
- SB840: Corrections, Director of the Department of; placement of inmates, Red Onion State Prison. (in committee)

## Sources
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20271/SB159)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230484.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230483.PDF)

## Related
- [SB844: Licensed clinical psychologists; prescriptive authority; report.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB844-2027)
- [HB1535: Individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities; admissibility of s…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1535-2027)
- [HB1534: School service providers; deletion of student and family personal information.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1534-2027)
- [SB843: Data centers; state permitting, local approval, moratorium, sunset.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB843-2027)
- [SB842: High school student athletes; eligibility, enrollment.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB842-2027)
- [SB840: Corrections, Director of the Department of; placement of inmates, Red Onion Sta…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB840-2027)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB159-2027 (as of 2026-10-11).