Bill would fund services for Laurel racetrack backstretch workers during relocation

Sen. Rosa Papp presented SB 595, a bill to provide social‑service funding for backstretch workers affected by the temporary move of racing operations to Laurel. The cross‑file sponsor said the measure would authorize $500,000 per year for two years to support nonprofits that serve backstretch workers.

"Basically what this bill is designed to do is to help the back stretch workers who are being moved into Laurel and during the period they're there to provide basically social services to help them," Sen. Rosa Papp said, identifying the proposal as a regional effort tied to the Preakness relocation and track redevelopment.

Witnesses described on‑the‑ground needs. Ronald Singh, chaplain at Laurel Racetrack, said the chaplaincy provides meals, immigration assistance, health and transportation referrals, AA meetings and hospital visits. Leah Paley, CEO of the Anne Arundel County Food Bank, told senators the food bank had received $50,000 in recent years from racecourse funds and exhausted those dollars within months: "We fully expended that money within 4 months," she said, and described rising food‑assistance demands by ZIP code.

Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services (LARS) executive director Shannon Mouton, testifying virtually, said her agency provided more than 21,000 bags of groceries last year and that proximity to the racecourse means backstretch workers often rely on the pantry. Supporters asked the committee to fund local nonprofit partners who already provide food, case management and basic essentials.

No committee vote was recorded in the hearing transcript; proponents urged the committee to report the bill favorably so local nonprofits can plan for increased service demand during the relocation period.