House committee advances bills to channel online gaming tax revenue to county fairs, harness racing

A Michigan House committee on county-fair and equine policy matters adopted substitute language for two bills and heard testimony on a third package measure that would direct a greater share of the states online gaming tax to county fairs and the harness-racing industry.

Committee members voted to adopt substitute H-1 language for House Bill 43-46 and for House Bill 43-47, and then took testimony on House Bill 43-48, a $2 million supplemental measure aimed at increasing purses for the 2025 harness-racing schedule.

The bills seek to raise the current cap on allocations from the non-tribal online gaming tax that flow into the Michigan Agricultural Equine Industry Development Fund. Supporters said the measure will provide steady, dedicated revenue for 81 county fairs, youth agricultural programs such as 4-H and the harness-racing supply chain that includes trainers, veterinarians and local feed suppliers.

Representative Jason Koontz, the bill sponsor who opened the hearing, said the proposal "doesn't raise taxes" and instead reallocates existing non-tribal internet gaming tax revenue. He described the legislation as "a shot in the arm for every single county fair in the state of Michigan," saying it would support county fairs, horse racing and 4-H programming.

Byron Chunk, introduced by Koontz as a longtime harness participant, told the committee that county fairs are a major entry point for youth agriculture and that nearly 50,000 young people ages 9 to 18 participated in county fair projects across the state last year. "This bill allows monetary…