HF2615 • 2026

A bill for an act relating to thoroughbred and quarter horse racing seasons. (Formerly HSB 658 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

Agriculture

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
Last action: 2026-05-19
Official status: Signed by Governor . H.J. 05/19 .
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the consequences if there is no mutual agreement for mixed meets, leaving this aspect uncertain.

Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse Racing Seasons Act

This act sets rules for the racing seasons of thoroughbreds and quarter horses in Polk County, Iowa.

What This Bill Does

Sets a minimum racing season length of 67 days for thoroughbreds and 26 days for quarter horses.
Requires thoroughbred and quarter horse races to be conducted separately unless there is written agreement between the relevant associations and racetrack licensee.

Who It Names or Affects

Horse racing associations representing thoroughbred and quarter horse owners in Polk County, Iowa.
Licensees of the horse racetrack located in Polk County, Iowa.

Terms To Know

Mixed meet: A period during which races for both thoroughbreds and quarter horses are scheduled to occur on overlapping days.

Limits and Unknowns

The act only applies to horse racing seasons in Polk County, Iowa.
It does not specify what happens if there is no mutual agreement between the associations and racetrack licensee for mixed meets.

Bill History

2026-05-19 Iowa Legislature
Signed by Governor . H.J. 05/19 .
2026-05-13 Iowa Legislature
Reported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor. H.J. 05/13 .
2026-05-02 Iowa Legislature
Message from Senate. H.J. 1131 .
2026-05-02 Iowa Legislature
Immediate message. S.J. 996 .
2026-05-02 Iowa Legislature
Passed Senate , yeas 30, nays 16. S.J. 995 .
2026-03-26 Iowa Legislature
Placed on calendar under unfinished business. S.J. 659 .
2026-03-19 Iowa Legislature
Placed on calendar.
2026-03-19 Iowa Legislature
Committee report, recommending passage. S.J. 608 .
2026-03-16 Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee recommends passage.
2026-03-10 Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee Meeting: 03/16/2026 12:30PM Room 315.
2026-03-03 Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee: Bousselot, Bisignano, and Green. S.J. 457 .
2026-03-02 Iowa Legislature
Read first time, referred to State Government. S.J. 423 .
2026-03-02 Iowa Legislature
Message from House. S.J. 423 .
2026-02-26 Iowa Legislature
Immediate message. H.J. 460 .
2026-02-26 Iowa Legislature
Passed House , yeas 86, nays 4. H.J. 444 .
2026-02-19 Iowa Legislature
Introduced, placed on calendar. H.J. 346 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act relating to thoroughbred and quarter horse racing seasons. (Formerly HSB 658 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

STATE OF IOWA
KIM REYNOLDS
GOVERNOR
May 19, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
House File 2615, an Act relating to thoroughbred and quarter horse racing seasons.
The above House File is hereby approved on this date.
Sincerely,
Kim Reynolds
Governor of Iowa
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV
R AlOHT
WilL MAINTA/
GKNKRAI. ASSKMBl.YiiK!iiUiHtnHiiiiiiBKi!iniBnHi»iiii»nHHiiHiiQninmiMiiitiiiiniisiBmiiiiiiHtiiiiiHi»iHiiiHiDiniiiiDiiHniimimBi!iiiinBiHiiniRinHHiiiiinimnKnim»iininil
House File 2615
AN ACT
RELATING TO THOROUGHBRED AND QUARTER HORSE RACING SEASONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF lOWAi
Section 1. Section 99D.7, subsection 3, Code 2026, is
amended to read as follows:
3. To adopt standards regarding the duration of
thoroughbred and quarter horse racing seasons, so that a
thoroughbred racing season shall not be less than sixty-seven
days, and so that a quarter horse racing season shall not be
less than twenty-six days. The thoroughbred and quarter horse
racing seasons shall bo run independently unlogg mutually
agreed upon by the asaooiationo representing the thoroughbred
and quarter horse ovmoro and the licengoo of the horse
racetrack located in Polk county.
Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 99D.7A Thoroughbred and quarter horse
racing seasons.
1. Thoroughbred and quarter horse racing seasons shall be
conducted as separate stand-alone meets that do not overlap,
other than as provided in this section. A race for one breed
shall not be scheduled or conducted on the same calendar day as
a race for the other breed, and the racing season for one breed
shall not commence until the racing season for the other breed
has concluded, unless mutually agreed upon in writing by the
associations representing the thoroughbred and quarter horse
owners and the licensee of the horse racetrack located in Polk
county.
House File 2615, p. 2
2. An arrangement in which races for both thoroughbreds and
quarter horses are scheduled during overlapping or concurrent
periods shall be deemed a mixed meet and shall only occur
pursuant to a mutual written agreement under subsection 1,
Sec. 3. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. The general assembly finds
that a recent decision or interpretation of the state racing
and gaming commission suggesting that thoroughbred and quarter
horse races may be held on the same calendar day without the
agreement of the associations representing the thoroughbred and
quarter horse owners and the licensee of the horse racetrack
located in Polk county, does not comply with the requirement in
section 99D.7, subsection 3, that such races run independently.
PAT GRASSLj^ AMY
Speaker or the House President of the Senate
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and
is known as House File 2615, Ninety-first General Assembly.
Approved 2026
/I/VAia
MEQ^N NELSON
the House
KIM REYNOLDS
Governor