New Racehorse Safety Bill Repeals 2020 Law, Creates State-Run Compact That Operates Outside Public View

The Racehorse Health and Safety Act of 2025 is a major overhaul of how horse racing is regulated across the country. It immediately repeals the existing Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020 and replaces that federal oversight structure with a new system based on an interstate compact. Essentially, states that want to be part of the national racing structure—and keep allowing interstate betting—have to pass a law joining this new agreement (Sec. 4). This structure sets up a new national body, the Racehorse Health and Safety Organization (RHSO), which will coordinate everything, from medication rules to racetrack safety standards (Sec. 101).

The New Boss: State Commissions Call the Shots

This bill hands the keys to the new RHSO organization to state racing commissions. The nine-person Board of Directors is appointed entirely by these commissions, with the five states that host the most races getting five guaranteed seats (Sec. 101). This means the people setting the national rules are deeply embedded in the state-level regulatory system. The RHSO Board’s main job is to set uniform, science-based rules for medication control and safety, which then override any conflicting state laws on those specific topics (Sec. 102). If a state racing commission wants to enforce the rules itself, it can elect to do so; otherwise, the RHSO steps in.

Funding the System: Who Pays the Bills?

If you own a horse, breed one, or run a track, get ready for a new fee structure. The RHSO is entirely self-funded, and the money comes from the member states. Each state racing commission is responsible for collecting the necessary fees from industry participants—like foal registration fees, starter fees, or track fees—and sending the money to the RHSO (Sec. 101). Crucially, the bill requires these fees to be assessed and kept separate by breed (Thoroughbred, Standardbred, Quarter Horse). If the RHSO proposes an annual fee increase over 5%, it needs a three-fourths supermajority vote from the Board, which is a significant hurdle designed to prevent runaway costs.

The Transparency Trade-Off

Here’s where the policy gets a little murky for anyone who values public access. The new RHSO and all its committees—including the ones that set the medication and safety rules—are explicitly exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Sec. 103). FACA is the law that generally requires federal advisory bodies to hold open meetings, publish their agendas, and keep detailed public records. By exempting the RHSO, the bill allows this new national regulatory body to conduct its business and debate rule changes largely out of the public eye. While the committees must hold open meetings for public input on proposed rules (Sec. 201), the internal decision-making and ethical discussions of the Board and committees can remain private.

Stricter Rules for Horses, Stricter Penalties for Trainers

On the horse health front, the rules are designed to be tough and uniform. The bill requires the creation of breed-specific Scientific Medication Control Committees to develop rules based on science and peer-reviewed data (Sec. 202). The core mandate is clear: a horse cannot compete if it has the active effects of any performance-enhancing substance, or if it has been given anything to mask pain so an injured horse can train or race. If you’re a trainer, be aware: the bill establishes a “rebuttable presumption of guilt” for trainers in medication control violations (Sec. 402). This shifts the burden, meaning if a banned substance is found, the trainer is presumed guilty until they can prove otherwise—a tough standard in any disciplinary hearing.

The Interstate Wagering Stick

For states that decide they don't want to join this new compact, there’s a clear financial consequence. If a state is not a member, it is strictly forbidden from allowing the electronic transmission of signals for interstate wagering on covered races (Sec. 4). This provision acts as a powerful incentive for states to join, as the ability to take bets from other states is a massive revenue stream for the racing industry. It essentially requires participation to remain a player in the national betting market.