SB 844 California Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Horse racing: out-of-state thoroughbred races.

Summary
The Horse Racing Law authorizes a thoroughbred racing association or fair to distribute the audiovisual signal and accept wagers on the results of out-of-state thoroughbred races conducted in the United States during the calendar period the association or fair is conducting a race meeting, including days on which there is no live racing being conducted by the association or fair, without the consent of the organization that represents horsemen and horsewomen participating in the race meeting and without regard to the amount of purses. Existing law prohibits the total number of thoroughbred races imported by associations or fairs on a statewide basis under these provisions from exceeding 75 races per day on days when live thoroughbred or fair racing is being conducted in the state, with the exception of prescribed races. This bill would instead prohibit the total number of thoroughbred races imported by associations or fairs on a statewide basis under these provisions from exceeding 80 races per day on days when live thoroughbred or fair racing is being conducted in the state, with the exception of prescribed races. Existing law prohibits, when the total number of thoroughbred races imported by a thoroughbred association or fair on a statewide basis is between 51 and 75 races per day on days when live thoroughbred or fair racing is being conducted in the state, a thoroughbred association or fair from accepting wagers on the above-described out-of-state races commencing after 5 p.m., Pacific standard time, without the consent of the harness and quarter horse racing association that is then conducting a live racing meeting in the County of Orange or the County of Sacramento. This bill would instead apply the above-described prohibition when the total number of thoroughbred races imported by a thoroughbred association or fair on a statewide basis is between 51 and 80 races per day on days when live thoroughbred or fair racing is being conducted in the state.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Assembly Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 21, 2025 Last action Jun 25, 2025
Floor votes · Senate May 28, 2025

How they voted

390
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
May 28, 2025
D Democratic30
29 Yea 1
96% Yea
R Republican10
10 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Jun 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to Com. on G.O.
lower
May 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 1295.) Ordered to the Assembly.
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0. Page 531.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Committee
Referred to Com. on G.O.
upper
Feb 21, 2025
Introduced
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Susan Rubio
Susan Rubio
DDemocratic
CA
22