20250AB__253698AMD INTRODUCED 2026-02-20 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2026-03-27 2025 AB AMD Introduced by Assembly Member Blanca Rubio LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Blanca Rubio

An act to amend

Section of the Business and Professions Code, relating to horse racing. horse racing Horse racing: satellite wagering facilities: authorizations.

(1) The Horse Racing Law prohibits a satellite wagering facility, except a facility that is located at a track where live racing is conducted, from being located within miles of any existing satellite wagering facility or of any track where a racing association conducts a live racing meeting, except, in the northern zone, the racing association or existing satellite wagering facility is authorized to waive this prohibition and consent to locating the new satellite wagering facility within miles of the facility or track.

This bill would expand that exception to the entire state. (2)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The Horse Racing Law authorizes the Department of Food and Agriculture to approve not more than satellite wagering facilities that are licensed jointly to the 1a District Agricultural Association and the 5th District Agricultural Association and that are located on the fairgrounds of the 1a District Agricultural Association or within the boundaries of the City and County of San Francisco.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>This bill would limit the department to approval of not more than satellite wagering facilities, as described above.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(3)</xhtml:p>"?>

(2) The Horse Racing Law requires, before a satellite wagering facility may be licensed for the and subsequent calendar years, the department to conduct a one-year test at the proposed site in order to determine the impact of the proposed facility on total state parimutuel revenues and on attendance and wagering at existing racetracks and fair satellite wagering facilities in the Counties of Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Solano. This bill would delete that requirement. (4)</xhtml:p>"?>

(3) The Horse Racing Law authorizes fairs to contract for the operation and management of a satellite wagering facility with an individual racing association or a partnership, joint venture, or other affiliation of or more racing associations or fairs that are licensed to conduct thoroughbred meetings or simulcast wagering within the northern zone. This bill would expand that authorization for fairs to contract, as specified above, for thoroughbred meetings or simulcast wagering within the state. MAJORITY NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 19605. (

a) Notwithstanding any other law, the board may authorize an association licensed to conduct a racing meeting in the northern zone to operate a satellite wagering facility for wagering on races conducted in the northern zone at its racetrack inclosure subject to all of the conditions specified in

Section 19605.3, and may authorize an association licensed to conduct a racing meeting in the central or southern zone to operate a satellite wagering facility for wagering on races conducted in the central or southern zone at its racetrack inclosure subject to the conditions specified in subdivisions (

a) to (e), inclusive, of

Section 19605.3 and the conditions and limitations set forth in

Section 19605.6. (

b) Notwithstanding any other law, a satellite wagering facility, except a facility that is located at a track where live racing is conducted, shall not be located within miles of any existing satellite wagering facility or of any track where a racing association conducts a live racing meeting. However, a racing association or any existing satellite wagering facility may waive the prohibition contained in this subdivision and may consent to the location of another satellite wagering facility within miles of the facility or track. (

c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), the Department of Food and Agriculture may approve not more than three satellite wagering facilities that are licensed jointly to the 1a District Agricultural Association and the 5th District Agricultural Association and that are located on the fairgrounds of the 1a District Agricultural Association or within the boundaries of the City and County of San Francisco. Notwithstanding

Section 19605.1, a satellite wagering facility may be located on property leased to one or both fairs. Notwithstanding any other law, the fairs may contract for the operation and management of a satellite wagering facility with an individual racing association or a partnership, joint venture, or other affiliation of two or more racing associations or fairs that are licensed to conduct thoroughbred meetings or simulcast wagering in the state. (

d) Subdivision (

b) does not prohibit the location of satellite wagering facilities within miles of any existing or proposed satellite facility established pursuant to subdivision (c).