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 applicant requesting to conduct live racing provide documentation that it will not operate historic‑horse‑racing (HHR) machines at a racetrack facility; and revises how excess money in the state racing fund would be allocated: 30% would be credited to the Kansas Horse Breeding Development Fund and 70% to a Kansas fair horse racing benefit fund.

Representative Donnie Droge, a proponent, said codifying the benefit fund would help "reignite a horse industry that has deep roots in Kansas" and urged the committee to pass the bill. “Codifying this legislation will return what was once over a hundred million dollar a year industry back into our fold,” Representative Droge said.

Industry and community proponents described plans for specific facilities and economic impacts. Jason Watkins, representing the Golden Circle historic horse racing facility in Park City, said his operation expects to offer simulcast wagering and HHR machines and that tax revenues from those operations would first pay the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission’s operating costs before being split into the proposed funds. Watkins said Golden Circle expects to open late this year and estimated "maybe $68,000,000 in tax revenue" as a rough projection.

Justine Staten, executive director of the Kansas Horse Council, framed the bill as a support mechanism for breeders and local ag businesses: “Horses are good for the soul, good for the community, and good for the state,” she said, and noted breeders’ purchases of feed and services have local economic effect. Witnesses also told the committee the state has historical capacity for a breeding industry and that supporting in‑state racing could reduce out‑of‑state travel for Kansas horsemen.

Several witnesses offered historical comparisons. Curt Eck, representing the Kansas Quarter Horse Racing Association, cited states such as Wyoming and Arkansas that used HHR machines to supplement purses and breeder awards and described economic growth from those programs.

Committee members asked about facility upgrades, costs and oversight. Witnesses said a state allocation of roughly $2,000,000 has been provided to help upgrade at least one track; proponents said civil engineers are assessing necessary work and ADA upgrades. Questions about regulatory oversight were answered by proponents who pointed to existing regulation under the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission and the pari‑mutuel act; "every license application has to be approved through the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission," Curt Eck said.

No formal committee action or vote was taken at the hearing. Committee staff noted written proponents are available to members, there were no listed neutral or opponent witnesses in the record, and the committee closed the hearing on SB 260 and moved on to other business.

The bill will return to committee for further consideration and any changes will be the subject of future committee hearings and markup.