HB 668-FN-LOCAL - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0382
02/06
HOUSE BILL 668-FN-LOCAL
SPONSORS: Rep. Ohm, Hills. 10; Rep. Almy, Graf. 17; Rep. Manohar, Hills. 9; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13
COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government
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ANALYSIS
This bill authorizes municipalities to hold a referendum on whether to prohibit the sale of pari-mutuel wagers on historic horse racing.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0382
02/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Historic Horse Racing; Local Option. Amend RSA 284 by inserting after section 22-b the following new section:
284:22-c Local Option.
I. Any town or city may prohibit the sale of pari-mutuel pool wagers on historic horse racing according to the provisions of this subdivision, in the following manner:
(a) In a town, the question shall be placed on the warrant of an annual town meeting under the procedures set out in RSA 39:3, and shall be voted on a ballot. In a city, the legislative body may vote to place the question on the official ballot for any regular municipal election, or, in the alternative, shall place the question on the official ballot for any regular municipal election upon submission to the legislative body of a petition signed by 5 percent of the registered voters.
(b) The selectmen, aldermen, or city council shall hold a public hearing on the question at least 15 days, but not more than 30 days before the question is to be voted on. Notice of the hearing shall be posted in at least 2 public places in the municipality and published in a newspaper of general circulation at least 7 days before the hearing.
(c) The wording of the question shall be substantially as follows: "Shall we prohibit the sale of pari-mutuel pool wagers on historic horse racing within the town or city?"
II. If a majority of those voting on the question vote "Yes," the lottery commission shall not issue licenses pursuant to RSA 284:12-a to entities offering pari-mutuel pool wagers on historic horse racing within the town or city.
III. If the question is not approved, the question may later be voted upon according to the provisions of paragraph I at the next annual town meeting or regular municipal election.
IV. A municipality that has voted to prohibit the sale of pari-mutuel pool wagers on historic horse racing may consider rescinding its action in the manner described in paragraph I of this section.
IV-a. An unincorporated place may prohibit the sale of pari-mutuel pool wagers on historic horse racing by majority vote of the county delegation, after a public hearing is held.
V. The lottery commission shall maintain a list of municipalities where the sale of pari-mutuel pool wagers on historic horse racing is prohibited.
VI. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, entities licensed to sell pari-mutuel pool wagers on historic horse racing located within municipalities which vote to prohibit the sale of pari-mutuel pool wagers on historic horse racing shall be permitted to operate until the expiration of their current license, provided that such license shall not be renewed by the lottery commission.
2 New Paragraph; Pari-Mutuel Pools on Historic Horse Races. Amend RSA 284:22-b by inserting after paragraph VIII the following new paragraph:
IX. No license to sell pari-mutuel pools on historic horse races shall be issued for establishments located within municipalities which have voted to prohibit such operation pursuant to RSA 284:22-c, provided that licensees located within such municipalities shall be permitted to operate until the expiration of their current license.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
25-0382
1/11/25
HB 668-FN-LOCAL- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT:
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable - See Methodology | ||||
Revenue Fund(s) | Lottery Fund/Education Trust Fund - Lottery revenue is credited to the lottery fund, with net revenues after expenditures being credited to the state education trust fund. | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill, effective January 1, 2026, allows a municipality vote to prohibit wagers on historic horse racing (HHR) within its borders. This bill also allows existing game rooms that held an HHR license prior to a municipality’s vote to prohibit HHR to continue operating until their current license expires, however, such licenses could not be renewed.
The Lottery Commission has provided the following information relative to this bill:
While it is not possible to determine if, or when, a given municipality may vote to prohibit HHR, The Lottery Commission states that allowing a municipality to prohibit HHR at any time with no protections for existing HHR facilities creates a significant level of uncertainty for the industry which will likely deter game operators from investing in the developing new gaming facilities in New Hampshire. Currently licenses expire on December 31, 2026, therefore, if a municipality where a current HHR licensee is operating were to prohibit this game, the licensee would be forced to cease HHR operations as of January 1, 2027. For informational purposes, FY 2024 HHR state revenue, by municipality, was as follows:
Location | Total HHR Revenue | Estimated State Revenue |
Belmont | $623,000 | $101,238 |
Keene | $6,214,000 | $1,009,775 |
Dover | $18,602,000 | $3,022,825 |
Nashua | $34,815,000 | $5,657,438 |
Manchester | $25,937,000 | $4,214,763 |
Hampton | $4,250,000 | $690,625 |
Lebanon | $3,790,000 | $615,875 |
Seabrook | $49,151,000 | $7,987,038 |
Total | $143,382,000 | $23,299,575 |
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Lottery Commission
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 18, 2025 | House | Hearing |
Feb. 12, 2025: Public Hearing: 02/18/2025 11:00 am LOB 201
Jan. 21, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 3 P. 22