Relates to welfare, medical, and retirement plans provided by a horsemen's organization in the absence of contractual obligations

Latest action Dec 19, 2025

Relates to welfare, medical, and retirement plans provided by a horsemen's organization in the absence of contractual obligations; provides in the absence of a contract between the licensed harness racing corporation or association and the representative horsemen's organization, the state gaming commission shall require such corporation or association to pay to the horsemen's organization an amount determined in accordance with the previously negotiated contract for welfare, medical, or retirement plans, including any associated costs, provided by the horsemen's organization to participants in racing at the licensed harness racing facility; provides the amounts shall be paid monthly from the horsemen's gross purse enhancement amount from video lottery gaming.

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Where it stands

Signed into law.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A8206, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law.

Committee

Racing and Wagering · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Racing, Gaming And Wagering · New York State Senate, Ways and Means · New York State Assembly.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that. New York State harness horsemen will be able to have health insurance and other benefits admin- istered during contract negotiations.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 10, 2025Result: passed
(57) (1) (0) (5)
Vote: Committee vote · Racing, Gaming And Wagering
Senate Racing, Gaming And WageringMay 28, 2025Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Angelo Santabarbara and Nader Sayegh

Democratic2

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. says this is needed

Under current law, health insurance, pensions and administrative costs are covered under contract with management; but in certain situations, horsemen are racing for an extended period without a contract, which means that they have no way to pay for these critically important bene- fits for their families. Section 318 of the State racing law would be amended to mandate that 8% of purse payments be withheld to cover health insurance, pensions and administration of these benefits should horsemen be racing without a contract. It should be noted that this proposed change does not impact on the tracks in any manner, as the funds being withheld are solely from the horseman's own purse money.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

Dec 19, 2025
Approval MEMO.60
APPROVAL MEMO.60
NY Senate
Dec 19, 2025
Signed
SIGNED CHAP.680
NY Senate
Dec 8, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
NY Senate
Jun 16, 2025
Ordered to Third Reading Rules CAL.823
ORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.823
NY Assembly
Jun 16, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly

Show full history (14 earlier events)

Jun 16, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly
Jun 16, 2025
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED FOR A8206
NY Assembly
Jun 12, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
NY Assembly
Jun 10, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Jun 10, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Jun 10, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
Jun 5, 2025
Amended
AMENDED ON THIRD READING (T) 2612B
NY Senate
Jun 4, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
May 29, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
May 28, 2025
1ST Report CAL.1328
1ST REPORT CAL.1328
NY Senate
May 20, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
NY Assembly
May 5, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO RACING AND WAGERING
NY Assembly
Apr 22, 2025
Amend and Recommit to Racing, Gaming and Wagering
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO RACING, GAMING AND WAGERING
NY Senate
Jan 21, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO RACING, GAMING AND WAGERING
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 22, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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