Bill > HB668

This bill allows municipalities in New Hampshire to hold a local referendum to prohibit the sale of pari-mutuel pool wagers on historic horse racing (HHR) within their borders. Under the proposed legislation, towns and cities can place the question on their annual town meeting warrant or municipal election ballot, with the specific wording asking voters: "Shall we prohibit the sale of pari-mutuel pool wagers on historic horse racing within the town or city?" If a majority votes "Yes," the state lottery commission will be prohibited from issuing new licenses for historic horse racing in that municipality. Existing HHR facilities will be permitted to continue operating until their current license expires, but their licenses will not be renewed. The bill also allows unincorporated places to prohibit HHR through a vote of the county delegation. The lottery commission will be required to maintain a list of municipalities that have banned HHR. This legislation is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and could potentially impact the state's lottery revenue, which was approximately $23.3 million from HHR in fiscal year 2024. The bill aims to give local communities more control over gambling operations within their jurisdictions while providing a transitional period for existing HHR facilities.

Government Affairs

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=0382&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB668