Racehorse Health and Safety Act of 2025

This bill lets states join an interstate compact to set the same safety and drug rules for each horse breed across those states. It would repeal the 2020 horseracing law right away and create a new Racehorse Health and Safety Organization to coordinate rules, testing, data, and lab accreditation for states that join. In those states, the Organization’s rules override any conflicting state rules. States that don’t join the compact cannot send interstate betting signals for off‑track or advance‑deposit wagering.

The bill requires science‑based drug and racetrack safety standards. Horses must be free of performance‑enhancing drugs; injured or unsound horses cannot train or race; and pain‑masking to let an injured horse run is banned. Expert committees for each breed set the lists of permitted and banned substances, in‑ and out‑of‑competition testing, and a 24‑hour pre‑race medication review. A racetrack safety committee sets standards for training and racing, track‑surface care, injury tracking, and concussion protocols, and can accredit racetracks. Enforcement includes investigations, penalties up to lifetime bans, and fair hearings with appeals.

• Who is affected: Horse owners, trainers, breeders, jockeys/drivers, veterinarians, racetracks, and horse‑care staff in Thoroughbred, Standardbred, and Quarter Horse racing, plus state racing commissions in races tied to interstate off‑track or advance‑deposit wagers.
• What changes: States may form a compact; a new Organization leads rulemaking, testing lab accreditation, and a national horse safety and injury database.
• What changes (continued): Non‑member states can’t send interstate wagering signals; horse sellers must tell buyers about certain bone‑drug (bisphosphonate) treatments given before age 4 or other substances that harm long‑term soundness.
• How it’s funded: Member states collect breed‑specific fees to run the program, and money for one breed can’t be used for another; the Organization can borrow but not from people it regulates.
• When: The repeal happens immediately. Most other parts start on the later of two years after enactment or when at least two states join the compact; the drug and safety rules begin 90 days after that.