ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

House: APPROP DP 11-6-0-2

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

HB 2963: amusements; FY2026

Sponsor: Representative Livingston (with permission of committee on Rules), LD 28

Caucus & COW

Overview

Contains provisions relating to amusements needed to implement the FY 2026 budget.

History

The Arizona Legislature adopts a budget for each fiscal year (FY) that contains general appropriations. Article IV, Section 20, Part 2 of the Constitution of Arizona requires the General Appropriations Act (feed bill) to contain only appropriations for the different state departments, state institutions, public schools and interest on public debt. Statutory changes necessary to reconcile the appropriations made in the feed bill and other changes are drafted into separate budget bills. These bills are prepared according to subject area.

Pursuant to A.R.S. § 5-104, the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) Division of Racing establishes and collects a regulatory assessment from each commercial racing permittee, payable from amounts deducted from pari-mutuel pools by the permittee, from amounts wagered on live and simulcast races from in-state and out-of-state wagering handled by the permittee. All monies received from the regulatory assessment are deposited into the Racing Regulation Fund, which is the primary funding source for the Division of Racing.

While ADG has the authority to set the regulatory assessment rate, the Legislature, for each FY since 2017, has set the rate at 0.5% of the amounts wagered.

Provisions

1.   Continues for FY 2026, as session law, to set ADG's regulatory assessment to 0.5% of the amounts wagered on live and simulcast races from in-state and out-of-state wagering handled by a commercial racing permittee. (Sec. 1)

2.   Authorizes ADG, for race meetings in 2025 and 2026, to allow for gate approval of all tested horses within 60 days of the race in which the horse is entered. (Sec. 2)

3.   Includes a requirement for ADG to amend the administrative code to allow for the 60-day gate approval. (Sec. 2)

4.   Repeals the gate approval authorization January 1, 2027. (Sec. 2)

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8.                     HB 2963

9.   Initials PB           Page 0 Caucus & COW

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