Kansas Senate committee advances bill to redistribute historic-horse-racing revenues, limits HHR machines to Sedgwick County

The Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee on an as‑amended voice vote advanced Senate Bill 260 on a motion to pass it favorably, moving language that redraws licensing rules for horsemen’s organizations and redirects tax revenues generated by historical horse racing machines.

Jason Long, revisor for the committee, told members that “Senate Bill 260 does make various amendments to the Kansas Pari‑Mutuel Racing Act,” and described changes to how organization and facility licenses may be granted and how revenues from historical horse race (HHR) machines would be distributed.

The bill removes certain location restrictions from the definitions of “horsemen’s association” and “horsemen’s nonprofit organization,” adjusts eligibility and approval requirements for organization licenses, and revises distribution of tax receipts from HHR machines. Under the bill as discussed in committee, after the commission’s operating expenses are paid, 30% of the…