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Senate committee hears bill to require local referendums on historic horse racing
Summary
House Bill 247 would require municipalities to hold local referendums before allowing historic horse racing (HHR) operations; sponsors and regulators debated opt‑in vs. opt‑out language, exemptions for existing licensees and the bill's interaction with a moratorium on new operators.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee opened public hearings on House Bill 247, a proposal by Representative Lou that would authorize municipalities to hold a referendum on whether to allow historic horse racing in their borders.
The bill would insert a local‑referendum requirement for historic horse racing (HHR) into state law by adapting language from the Keno statute (RSA 284:51). "I'm the prime sponsor of house bill 247, which is a bill authorizing municipalities to hold a referendum on whether to allow historic horse racing," Representative Lou told the committee.
Supporters said the measure restores a local‑control rule that applied to some other forms of expanded gaming. Critics and other legislators pressed the committee on whether the bill should cover video lottery terminals (VLTs) and on whether the statute should be drafted as an opt‑in (illegal statewide unless a town permits HHR) or an opt‑out (legal statewide unless a town prohibits it). Representative Horgan argued HHR machines “are basically just slot machines” in practice and recommended broadening any local‑control language to cover other similar devices.
Lottery Commission staff told senators the bill, as written, would not affect current revenue estimates for the upcoming biennia because existing licensees are exempted under the bill's transition language. Charlie McIntyre of the Lottery Commission said the proposal "would not impact our existing revenue estimates for the legislature for this biennium or the next biennium" and noted a moratorium in statute means no new operators could begin until 2031 under current timelines.
Key provisions discussed include: - Adopting Keno statute language (RSA 284:51) with substitutions for historic horse racing; the bill sponsor provided a marked copy to the committee. - An exemption for existing HHR licenses to continue operating without triggering the referendum requirement; the original draft exempted licensees until Jan. 1, 2026, and a House amendment extended that exemption to entities eligible for licenses going forward. - Committee questions about whether the bill should take effect on passage so municipalities could place the question on fall ballots.
The committee chair closed the public hearing on House Bill 247 after discussion and indicated the panel would not execute the bill that day and would continue consideration at a later date.
The public hearing record shows local control and the scope of devices covered as the primary points of debate; senators and witnesses agreed to return to the bill with potential amendments (including adding VLTs) before taking formal action.
