FL Senate

April 17, 2023 – Meeting Packet for the 4/18/23 meeting available here.  Full language is included in Sec. 26-30 of the bill.  The packet provides the following summary:

The bill creates a credit for permitholders that conduct thoroughbred racing. The credit is equal to the amount paid by the permitholder in the prior fiscal year for its share of the assessments
imposed by the Authority. The credit may be taken against the taxes and fees imposed under ss. 550.0951, 550.09515, and 550.3551(3), F.S., less certain other statutory credits.

The bill also amends s. 212.20, F.S., to distribute $27.5 million of Florida sales tax receipts to the Florida Agricultural Promotional Campaign Trust Fund.

The bill creates section 571.265, F.S., relating to the promotion of Florida thoroughbred breeding and racing. The bill requires that the $27.5 million distribution be used by the Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services to encourage breeding thoroughbred racehorses and the conducting of thoroughbred racing at thoroughbred tracks in Florida.

The bill requires that the funds be distributed as follows:

5 million to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, Inc., to be used for:

  • Purses or purse supplements for Florida-bred or Florida-sired horses that participate in Florida thoroughbred races.
  • Awards to breeders of Florida-bred horses that win, place, or show in Florida thoroughbred races.
  • Awards to owners of stallions who sired Florida-bred horses that win Florida thoroughbred stakes races, if the stallions are registered with the association as Florida
    stallions.
  • Other racing incentives connected to Florida-bred or Florida-sired horses registered with the association that participate in thoroughbred races in Florida.
  • Awards administration.
  • Promotion of the Florida thoroughbred breeding industry. $5 million to Tampa Bay Downs, Inc., to be used as purses in thoroughbred races conducted at its pari-mutuel facilities and for the maintenance and operation of that facility, pursuant to an agreement with its local majority horsemen’s group.

$15 million to Gulfstream Park Racing Association, Inc., to be used as purses in thoroughbred races conducted at its pari-mutuel facility and for the maintenance and operation of its facilities, pursuant to an agreement with the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Inc.

$2.5 million dollars to be distributed as follows:

  • $2 million dollars to Gulfstream Park Racing Association, Inc., to be used as purses and purse supplements for Florida-bred or Florida-sired horses registered with the association
    that participate in thoroughbred races at the permitholder’s pari-mutuel facility, pursuant to a written agreement filed with the department establishing the rates, procedures, and
    eligibility requirements entered into by the permitholder, the association, and the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Inc.
  • $500,000 to Tampa Bay Downs, Inc., to be used as purses and purse supplements for Florida-bred or Florida-sired horses registered with the association that participate in
    thoroughbred races at the permitholder’s pari-mutuel facility, pursuant to a written agreement filed with the department establishing the rates, procedures, and eligibility
    requirements entered into by the permitholder, the association, and the local majority horsemen’s group at the permitholder’s pari-mutuel facility.

On or before the first day of the August following each fiscal year in which a recipient under this section received or used funds pursuant to this section, each such recipient must submit a report
to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services detailing how all funds were used in the prior fiscal year.

These provisions of the bill are repealed on July 1, 2026, unless reviewed and saved from repeal by the Legislature.