S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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5904
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 24, 2025
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Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Racing and Wagering
AN ACT to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law and
the economic development law, in relation to creating a racing fan
advisory board and establishing an I Love NY Racing promotion
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is
amended by adding a new section 912 to read as follows:
§ 912. RACING FAN ADVISORY BOARD. 1. THERE IS HEREBY CREATED A RACING
FAN ADVISORY BOARD TO PROVIDE ADVICE TO THE NEW YORK STATE GAMING
COMMISSION ON ISSUES RELATED TO HORSE RACING AND WAGERING.
2. THE RACING FAN ADVISORY BOARD SHALL BE A SEVEN MEMBER BOARD
APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AS FOLLOWS: THREE PERSONS APPOINTED BY THE
GOVERNOR; ONE PERSON APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR UPON THE RECOMMENDATION
OF THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; ONE PERSON APPOINTED BY THE
GOVERNOR UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY; ONE
PERSON APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR UPON THE JOINT RECOMMENDATION OF THE
CHAIRPERSONS OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON RACING, WAGERING AND GAMING AND
THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RACING AND WAGERING; ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY
THE GOVERNOR UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK
STATE GAMING COMMISSION. THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE ADVISORY BOARD SHALL BE
SELECTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND SERVE IN THAT POSITION AT THE GOVERNOR'S
PLEASURE. NO MEMBER OF THE BOARD SHALL OWN MORE THAN ONE HORSE, OR
PORTION OF AN INTEREST IN A HORSE, WHICH RACES COMPETITIVELY IN ANY
CALENDAR YEAR AT ANY RACE TRACK LICENSED OR REGULATED BY THE NEW YORK
STATE GAMING COMMISSION.
3. OF THE THREE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, THE FOLLOWING QUAL-
IFICATIONS SHALL BE CONSIDERED PRIOR TO APPOINTMENT: INVOLVEMENT WITH A
NON-PROFIT CORPORATION WHICH SEEKS TO PROMOTE FAN DEVELOPMENT IN THE
SPORT OF HORSE RACING; OR EMPLOYMENT WITH AN OFF-TRACK-BETTING CORPO-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09489-01-5
A. 5904 2
RATION ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS CHAPTER; OR CERTIFICATION AND LICEN-
SURE AS A VETERINARIAN WITH A PRACTICE DEVOTED PRIMARILY TO HORSES.
4. EACH MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A TERM OF SEVEN YEARS, EXCEPT
THE FIRST MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE SENATE RACING, WAGERING AND GAMING COMMITTEE AND
ASSEMBLY RACING AND WAGERING COMMITTEE, WHO SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A
TERM OF ONE YEAR; AND THE FIRST MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR UPON
THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE TEMPORARY
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE SHALL BE APPOINTED TO TERMS OF THREE YEARS; AND
THE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR WHO SHALL HAVE THE AFOREMENTIONED
EXPERIENCE SHALL BE APPOINTED TO TERMS OF FIVE YEARS; AND THE MEMBER
APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
NEW YORK STATE GAMING COMMISSION SHALL BE APPOINTED TO A TERM OF SEVEN
YEARS. VACANCIES SHALL BE FILLED BY THE MANNER OF THE APPOINTMENT OF
THE VACATED POSITION FOR THE UNEXPIRED TERM.
5. THE MEMBERS OF THE RACING FAN ADVISORY BOARD SHALL SERVE WITHOUT
COMPENSATION BUT MAY REQUEST AND SHALL RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM THE NEW
YORK STATE GAMING COMMISSION FOR INFORMATION RELATING TO HORSE RACING IN
NEW YORK STATE. THE MEMBERS OF THE RACING FAN ADVISORY BOARD MAY BE
REIMBURSED FOR THEIR NECESSARY AND ACTUAL EXPENSES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF
THEIR DUTIES UNDER THIS SECTION. THE MEMBERS OF THE RACING FAN ADVISORY
BOARD SHALL BE ISSUED A LICENSE BY THE NEW YORK STATE GAMING COMMISSION
WHICH SHALL PROVIDE THEM ACCESS TO THE TRACK AND BACK STRETCH OF ALL NEW
YORK STATE LICENSED FACILITIES DURING THE LENGTH OF THEIR TERM ON THE
RACING FAN ADVISORY BOARD. MEMBERS SHALL BE REQUIRED TO FILE AN OATH OF
OFFICE, AND EACH YEAR OF THEIR TERM, SHALL MAKE ANNUAL FINANCIAL DISCLO-
SURES AS IF THEY WERE A POLICY MAKING EMPLOYEE OF THE STATE UNDER
SECTION SEVENTY-THREE-A OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW. MEETINGS OF THE
RACING FAN ADVISORY BOARD SHALL BE CALLED BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE
RACING FAN ADVISORY BOARD, OR BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE NEW YORK STATE
GAMING COMMISSION, OR BY WRITTEN NOTICE TO BOTH SUCH CHAIRPERSONS BY
THREE MEMBERS OF THE RACING FAN ADVISORY BOARD, IN WHICH CASE THE CHAIR-
PERSON OF THE NEW YORK STATE GAMING COMMISSION SHALL CONVENE SUCH A
MEETING OF THE RACING FAN ADVISORY BOARD BY ACTUAL NOTICE TO ALL SUCH
MEMBERS OF THE RACING FAN ADVISORY BOARD.
6. THE RACING FAN ADVISORY BOARD SHALL:
(A) MEET PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF ARTICLE SEVEN OF THE PUBLIC
OFFICERS LAW;
(B) ADVISE THE NEW YORK STATE GAMING COMMISSION ON ISSUES RELATED TO
HORSE RACING AND WAGERING;
(C) MAKE REPORTS TO THE NEW YORK STATE GAMING COMMISSION REGARDING THE
OPERATION OF THE THOROUGHBRED AND HARNESS RACE TRACKS AND ADVISE AS TO
WHETHER THE OPERATOR OF RACES AT SUCH TRACKS, BASED ON INFORMATION
AVAILABLE TO THE RACING FAN ADVISORY BOARD, IS SERVING THE GROWTH OF THE
SPORT OF THOROUGHBRED RACING;
(D) HAVE AS THEIR MISSION THE GROWTH OF THE FAN BASE RELATED TO THE
SPORT OF RACING; AND
(E) ADVISE THE NEW YORK STATE GAMING COMMISSION ON APPROPRIATE ACTIONS
TO ENCOURAGE FAN ATTENDANCE AT HORSE RACING TRACKS OR AT OFF-TRACK-BET-
TING CORPORATIONS ORGANIZED UNDER THIS CHAPTER OR ANY SUCCESSOR ENTITY
OF SUCH ORGANIZATION LICENSED BY THE NEW YORK STATE GAMING COMMISSION.
§ 2. Subdivision 18-c of section 100 of the economic development law,
as amended by chapter 572 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as
follows:
18-c. to establish, in cooperation with the commissioner of agricul-
ture and markets, procedures for proposing nominations, including proce-
A. 5904 3
dures to coordinate with such commissioner to determine which department
shall make nominations for awards in categories that may be similar to
those listed in subdivision nine of section three hundred nine of the
agriculture and markets law to the governor for four annual, non-mone-
tary awards to be known as: (a) New York State Direct Farm Marketing
Award; (b) New York State Agri-Tourism Award; (c) New York State
Specialty Food Product Award; [and] (d) New York Animal or Plant Fiber
and Textile Award; AND (E) NEW YORK STATE HORSE RACING FARM OF THE YEAR
AWARD. These awards shall be given in recognition of EXCEPTIONAL OR
unusual efforts by farmers, food processors, food retailers, fiber
processors, and textile manufacturers and retailers for the marketing of
New York state grown agricultural commodities, foods processed from or
primarily containing New York state agricultural commodities, or
textiles manufactured in New York state from animal or plant fiber grown
or produced predominantly in New York state and for promoting New York
state farms that are also tourist destinations, AND HORSE BREEDING AND
RACING FARMS WHICH ARE RECOGNIZED AS HELPING TO DEVELOP NEW YORK'S
HORSE RACING INDUSTRY.
§ 3. I Love NY Racing promotion. The New York state gaming commission
shall, in cooperation with the racing fan advisory board, and in cooper-
ation with the commissioner of agriculture and markets, and the commis-
sioner of economic development, create an I Love NY Racing promotion.
Such promotion shall cause grants to be made to the racing industry
pursuant to appropriation for such purpose. Such grants shall be made to
tourism promotion agencies and not-for-profit corporations, who shall
work with the racing fan advisory board to develop the promotion of
harness and thoroughbred racing. Such promotions shall include tours of
race tracks, horse training and breeding farms, and educational events
to teach racing fans about the sport of horse racing.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.