Senate committee gives favorable report to Greene County racing commission statute update

Senator Christopher Singleton told the Senate Tourism Committee that SB 90 updates a local statute governing the Greene County Racing Commission, which has overseen simulcasting and parimutuel dog-racing operations in Greene County since 1973.

"It's been in business since 1973. It's been legal in the state of Alabama," Singleton said as he described the measure as an update to an existing local statute that also revises license fees and the commission's grant-making terms. He said the updated text reallocates some proceeds to hospitals and school systems and clarifies what the commission can and cannot license.

Committee members asked procedural and substantive questions about the bill's scope, how the Crystal Palace (referred to in committee as "the Palace") fits into the commission's licensing, and whether passage would affect other counties' ability to seek similar local legislation. A senator noted the bill is local legislation subject to Rule 50 and explained the local-CA process and the 21-vote threshold required for local bills to pass the full Senate.

A friendly amendment correcting a typographical error in the substitute was offered and approved by voice vote; the chair then called a voice vote on the bill. SB 90 received a favorable report from the committee by voice vote.

The bill sponsor and supporters characterized the measure as an administrative update to existing local authority rather than a new expansion of gambling beyond current local arrangements. Committee members and the sponsor also discussed state tax receipts from parimutuel activity, with the sponsor confirming that the state receives sales-related taxes from the operations.

Next steps: because the bill is local legislation, it must proceed under Rule 50 and return to the appropriate local-legislation process before a final floor vote.