Committee opens hearing on Senate Bill 260 to revive live horse racing and allocate historic-horse-racing tax revenue

A legislative committee opened a hearing on Senate Bill 260, which would amend Kansas’ pari‑mutuel wagering statutes to ease requirements for fair associations to conduct live horse racing and to create a dedicated split of historic‑horse‑racing tax revenue.

The bill’s sponsor and other proponents told the committee the changes aim to restore in‑state live racing and revive the breeding and associated ag‑businesses. State Revisor’s Office staffer Mike summarized the bill’s statutory changes for the committee and said the measure modifies several definitions, licensing provisions and fund distributions in the pari‑mutuel law.

Mike, Revisor’s Office, told the committee, “Senate bill 260 deals with pari mutuel wagering. It amends 6 sections of the pari mutuel law basically to make it easier…for fair associations to have horse racing.” The Revisor said the bill deletes legacy location limitations tied to facilities such as Eureka Downs and Anthony Downs; requires that an…