California · 2025–26 Regular Session · Senate Bill
SB 397: Horse racing: thoroughbred racing.
Did not advance Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
- Did not advance
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 397 is a senate bill introduced in the California Senate on February 14, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Horse racing: thoroughbred racing. Primary sponsor: Tony Strickland (R). Most recent recorded action (February 2, 2026): Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.
Existing law authorizes the California Horse Racing Board to regulate horse racing and parimutuel wagering on horse races in California, and authorizes the board to set the standards for the types of races that may be run and the types of horses that may be run, within statutory guidelines. Existing law authorizes the board to grant licenses to an association other than a fair for only one type of racing, but provides an exception for the board to authorize thoroughbred and Appaloosa horses to enter in quarter horse races shorter than 5 furlongs at specified meetings, subject to specified conditions.
This bill would change the above-described exception to instead authorize thoroughbred and Appaloosa horses to enter in quarter horse races at any distance.
Existing law authorizes an association licensed to conduct quarter horse racing to apply to the board for, and requires the board to grant, authority to conduct thoroughbred racing as part of its racing program if specified conditions are met, including that the thoroughbred races are for a claiming price of not more than $5,000, and at a distance of 4.5 furlongs or less.
This bill would change the above-described condition to instead provide that the thoroughbred races are for a claiming price of not more than $6,000, at any distance.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Strickland | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 36 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
- Re-referred to Com. on G.O.
- From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
- Referred to Com. on RLS.
- From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 17.
- Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.