Lonny Powell – ©Serita Hult
Florida has always championed rural communities, recognizing agriculture as the backbone of our economy. Senate Bill 408 undermines that legacy, prioritizing Canadian gaming interests over Florida’s family farms, small businesses, and horsemen — many of whom shared their heartfelt opposition to the bill today. The Senate’s first of three committee stops showed that there’s more work to be done to fight this deeply flawed bill, but this is a fight we can win.
The Senate version of the bill looks far different than its counterpart in the House (HB 105) by extending the decoupling glide path from five to seven years, and the Senate version does not include the top-to-bottom industry changes or adjust breeding incentives.
Though the bill was approved in Tuesday’s Senate committee, it’s important to recognize that the vote count doesn’t represent the final outcome. The bill faced opposition from the Senate Majority Leader and another key Republican member — proof that senators are taking a hard look at the devastating consequences the legislation would have on Florida’s racing and breeding industry.
The heartfelt testimony from the dozens of Florida breeders and horsemen clearly resonated with the committee members, including the bill sponsor and committee chair. That they both reiterated respect for our industry indicates that the Senate desires good-faith discussions with Florida’s breeders and owners to gain a better understanding of the proposed legislation’s impacts.
Our own George Isaacs, FTBOA president, stood before the committee to share that he has accomplished his own American dream in Florida because of “committed ownership, great horses to work with, good decisions, and most importantly — a strong racing and breeding economy here in Florida.” His testimony, and the testimony of so many others, underscored how critical Florida racing is to the success of racing in our state, throughout our country, and around the globe.
The good news? Florida leaders and senators are listening. The Senate is taking a more thoughtful, measured approach and that’s an opportunity we must seize.
At a press stop in Ocala Wednesday, Governor DeSantis underscored that our thoroughbred industry is deeply rooted in our state’s culture, saying: “horse breeding is part of our state culture — it’s part of the culture here.” He also expressed his concern for how the proposed legislation could affect the viability of our industry. He emphasized that putting Florida first means making sure Floridians can be successful — and we couldn’t agree more.
Two more Senate committees remain that must approve the bill before it may be considered by the full Senate. Then, the Senate and House must ultimately agree on identical versions of the bill for it to pass the full Legislature. Throughout that long process, we will continually educate lawmakers on the real motivations to decouple and the long-term damage it would inflict on Florida’s thriving thoroughbred industry.
Just as we have led the charge many times before, the FTBOA will continue engagement, remain vocal, and ensure that Florida’s racing legacy remains strong for generations to come.
Lonny Powell, CEO
Decoupling: What You Need to Know: Read Now
Return to the April 3 issue of Wire to Wire
