The Racehorse Health and Safety Act of 2025 aims to safeguard the health and welfare of covered horses and enhance the integrity and safety of horseracing. A significant provision of this bill is the explicit repeal of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020 . It proposes a new framework by authorizing states to enter into an interstate compact , enabling them to collaboratively develop and enforce uniform scientific medication control and racetrack safety rules consistent across each equine breed involved in covered horseraces. Member states of the compact would establish and participate in the Racehorse Health and Safety Organization (RHSO) , which serves to coordinate decision-making and actions among state racing commissions. The RHSO would be governed by a nine-member Board of Directors, with members appointed by state racing commissions based on racing activity. This Board is responsible for adopting rules recommended by specialized committees, ensuring they are based on scientific principles, and overseeing a nationwide database for horse safety and health information. The RHSO would be funded through initial and permanent fees assessed by state racing commissions on member states, calculated annually and collected on a breed-specific basis to prevent commingling of funds. States have the option to enforce the RHSO's rules within their jurisdiction; otherwise, the RHSO will enforce them, and its rules would preempt conflicting state laws or regulations for member states. Additionally, member states must treat the undisclosed sale of a horse administered certain harmful substances as an unfair or deceptive practice. The bill mandates the creation of breed-specific Scientific Medication Control Committees for Standardbred, Quarter Horse, and Thoroughbred racing. These committees are tasked with drafting proposed rules to ensure horses compete free from performance-enhancing medications and are not unsound. The rules emphasize uniformity within each breed, considering their unique characteristics and performance models, and cover the development of permitted and prohibited substance lists, medication withdrawal guidelines, and comprehensive testing protocols. A Racetrack Safety Committee would also be established to develop mandatory racetrack safety rules, encompassing training and racing safety standards, track safety protocols, and a process for racetrack accreditation. These rules include requirements for racing surface quality maintenance, injury and fatality analysis, and educational programs. The bill outlines various prohibited acts, such as the use or possession of non-therapeutic medications, exceeding therapeutic thresholds, and tampering with rules or investigations, with the RHSO Board issuing rules for results management and a disciplinary process, including administrative sanctions like lifetime bans and fines, while ensuring due process.
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Racehorse Health and Safety Act of 2025
USA119th CongressHR-3378| House
| Updated: 5/14/2025
The Racehorse Health and Safety Act of 2025 aims to safeguard the health and welfare of covered horses and enhance the integrity and safety of horseracing. A significant provision of this bill is the explicit repeal of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020 . It proposes a new framework by authorizing states to enter into an interstate compact , enabling them to collaboratively develop and enforce uniform scientific medication control and racetrack safety rules consistent across each equine breed involved in covered horseraces. Member states of the compact would establish and participate in the Racehorse Health and Safety Organization (RHSO) , which serves to coordinate decision-making and actions among state racing commissions. The RHSO would be governed by a nine-member Board of Directors, with members appointed by state racing commissions based on racing activity. This Board is responsible for adopting rules recommended by specialized committees, ensuring they are based on scientific principles, and overseeing a nationwide database for horse safety and health information. The RHSO would be funded through initial and permanent fees assessed by state racing commissions on member states, calculated annually and collected on a breed-specific basis to prevent commingling of funds. States have the option to enforce the RHSO's rules within their jurisdiction; otherwise, the RHSO will enforce them, and its rules would preempt conflicting state laws or regulations for member states. Additionally, member states must treat the undisclosed sale of a horse administered certain harmful substances as an unfair or deceptive practice. The bill mandates the creation of breed-specific Scientific Medication Control Committees for Standardbred, Quarter Horse, and Thoroughbred racing. These committees are tasked with drafting proposed rules to ensure horses compete free from performance-enhancing medications and are not unsound. The rules emphasize uniformity within each breed, considering their unique characteristics and performance models, and cover the development of permitted and prohibited substance lists, medication withdrawal guidelines, and comprehensive testing protocols. A Racetrack Safety Committee would also be established to develop mandatory racetrack safety rules, encompassing training and racing safety standards, track safety protocols, and a process for racetrack accreditation. These rules include requirements for racing surface quality maintenance, injury and fatality analysis, and educational programs. The bill outlines various prohibited acts, such as the use or possession of non-therapeutic medications, exceeding therapeutic thresholds, and tampering with rules or investigations, with the RHSO Board issuing rules for results management and a disciplinary process, including administrative sanctions like lifetime bans and fines, while ensuring due process.
Advisory bodiesAnimal protection and human-animal relationshipsAthletesBusiness ethicsContracts and agencyGamblingMammalsMedical tests and diagnostic methodsProfessional sportsSports and recreation facilitiesState and local financeState and local government operationsVeterinary medicine and animal diseases