2026-2027; amusements.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text uses 'may allow' for the horse racing rule, meaning officials have discretion rather than a strict requirement to approve every eligible horse.

HB4139: New Fees for Horse Racing and Rules for First-Time Races

This bill requires horse racing permit holders to pay a new fee in fiscal year 2026-2027 and allows horses with specific workout records to race as first-time starters.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Department of Gaming to collect a regulatory assessment from commercial racing permittees during fiscal year 2026-2027.
• Sets the fee amount at 0.5 percent of money wagered on live and simulcast races, taken directly from pari-mutuel pools.
• Allows horses that have never raced before to compete if they receive gate approval and complete two timed workouts.
• Mandates that one of the required timed workouts must be an out-of-the-gate workout within 60 days of the race date.
• States that these new rules for first-time starters end on December 31, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

• Commercial racing permittees who hold licenses to operate horse races
• The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG)
• Horses entering their first race in the years 2026 and 2027

Terms To Know

Pari-mutuel pool

A betting system where all money wagered on a specific outcome is collected into one pot, from which fees are deducted before winners share the remaining amount.

Regulatory assessment

A fee charged by the government to cover the costs of overseeing and regulating an industry or activity.

Gate approval

Official permission from race officials allowing a horse to enter the starting gate for a specific event.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill was vetoed by the governor on May 5, 2026, so it may not become law unless lawmakers override that decision.
• The rules allowing first-time starters to race with two workouts only apply during calendar years 2026 and 2027.

Official Summary Text

HB4139 - 2026-2027; amusements.

Current Bill Text

HB4139 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

2026-2027;
amusements.

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 4139

AN
ACT

relating to amusements.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.
Department of
gaming; regulatory assessment; pari-mutuel pool

Notwithstanding any other law, in
fiscal year 2026-2027, the department of gaming shall establish and
collect a regulatory assessment from each commercial racing permittee, payable
from amounts deducted from pari-mutuel pools by the permittee, in
addition to the amounts the permittee is authorized to deduct pursuant to
section 5-111, subsection B, Arizona Revised Statutes, from amounts
wagered on live and simulcast races from in-state and out-of-state
wagering handled by the permittee, in the amount of 0.5 percent of the amounts
wagered.

Sec. 2.
Department of
gaming; horse racing; gate approval; timed workouts; delayed repeal

A. Notwithstanding any
other law, for race meetings in the years 2026 and 2027, the department of
gaming may allow a first-time starter horse to race as long as the horse has
gate approval and at least two timed workouts. One of the timed
workouts shall be an out-of-the-gate workout that is
conducted within sixty days of the race in which the horse is entered.

B. This section is repealed
from and after December 31, 2027.