Senate committee advances bill to revise Kansas pari-mutuel racing law, limits historic horse-racing machines to Sedgwick County

The Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 260 after a committee hearing that included proponents from the equine industry, county interests and a state revisor. The bill would revise the Kansas Pari-Mutuel Racing Act to change licensing and revenue rules for live and historic horse racing, direct how tax revenue from historical horse-race (HHR) machines is split, and clarify that HHR machines may be operated at only one facility in Sedgwick County under current law.

Supporters told the committee the bill is intended to revive a once-larger racing industry in Kansas and to direct new tax receipts to industry supports and oversight. Jason Long, staff revisor, told the committee the bill removes certain location restrictions for horsemen’s associations and horsemen’s nonprofit organizations and adjusts organization-license requirements, including a provision that a horsemen’s nonprofit organization running live racing cannot do so before March 1, 2028, unless at Eureka Downs.

Long summarized the proposed revenue changes: 30% of revenue from historical horse-race…