SB-397 • 2026

Horse racing: thoroughbred racing.

Firearms

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Strickland
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary text indicates that there is a technical, nonsubstantive change to firearm regulations, but it does not provide details on what this means for existing laws.

Horse Racing Rules Update

The bill changes rules about thoroughbred and Appaloosa horses racing in quarter horse races at any distance and updates the claiming price for thoroughbred races.

What This Bill Does

Changes the rule to allow thoroughbred and Appaloosa horses to race in quarter horse races at any distance, not just shorter than 5 furlongs.
Raises the maximum claiming price for thoroughbred races from $5,000 to $6,000.

Who It Names or Affects

Horse racing associations and tracks in California
The horses and jockeys involved in thoroughbred and quarter horse races

Terms To Know

Claiming price: The maximum amount of money a horse can be bought for during a race.
Quarter horse racing: Racing events where horses run short distances, usually less than 5 furlongs.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the changes will affect horse races or tracks.
It is unclear if there are any current limits on when thoroughbred and Appaloosa horses can race in quarter horse events.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2025-04-02 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on G.O.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-02-26 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-02-18 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 17.
2025-02-14 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 397, as amended,
Jones
Strickland.
Firearms.
Horse racing: thoroughbred racing.
Existing law authorizes the California Horse Racing Board to regulate horse racing and parimutuel wagering on horse races in California, and authorizes the board to set the standards for the types of races that may be run and the types of horses that may be run, within statutory guidelines. Existing law authorizes the board to grant licenses to an association other than a fair for only one type of racing, but provides an exception for the board to authorize thoroughbred and Appaloosa horses to enter in quarter horse races shorter than 5 furlongs at specified meetings, subject to specified conditions.
This bill would change the above-described exception to instead authorize thoroughbred and Appaloosa horses to enter in quarter horse races at any distance.
Existing law authorizes an association licensed to conduct quarter horse racing to apply to the board for, and requires the board to grant, authority to conduct thoroughbred racing as part of its racing program if specified conditions are met, including that the thoroughbred races are for a claiming price of not more than $5,000, and at a distance of 4.5 furlongs or less.
This bill would change the above-described condition to instead provide that the thoroughbred races are for a claiming price of not more than $6,000, at any distance.
Existing law generally regulates deadly weapons, including firearms, and defines the term “firearm” for this purpose.
This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to those provisions.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF