Bill
HB 1721
Arkansas HB1721 would ban greyhound racing and all live/simulcast wagering by casino licensees, with a phased ban starting Jan 1, 2028; minimal fiscal impact; died in committee.
Note on source materials
- The materials you provided contain conflicting bill titles and texts from different jurisdictions (an Arkansas bill to prohibit greyhound racing, and portions of an Illinois child welfare bill also labeled HB1721). The bill text, DFA fiscal statement, and most statutory citations below correspond to the Arkansas version that would ban greyhound racing and simulcast wagering. The status line you provided at the top (“Died In Committee”) is also noted and reflected below.
Purpose and intent
- The bill would prohibit greyhound racing and the acceptance of wagers on greyhound racing (both live and simulcast) by entities subject to Arkansas racing law. The stated intent is to remove legal authority for conducting and wagering on greyhound races in Arkansas, with an effective date that phases the prohibition in on January 1, 2028.
Key provisions
- Adds new code sections to:
- Arkansas Code Title 23, Ch. 110 and Ch. 111 (proposed new sections 23-110-106 and 23-111-106) defining “casino licensee” and “franchise holder” and prohibiting those entities from:
- Conducting greyhound racing; and
- Accepting wagers on greyhound racing, whether live or simulcast.
- Amends existing code to remove or limit the Arkansas Racing Commission’s authority to adopt rules permitting wagering on live or televised greyhound racing.
- Edits related statutes to remove greyhound racing from definitions/exemptions (electronic games of skill, pari‑mutuel governance, and lottery exclusions), aligning statutory definitions with the ban.
- Effective date specified: January 1, 2028.
Fiscal and administrative impact
- DFA Fiscal Impact Statement: estimates no meaningful state fiscal impact. Arkansas presently collects 1% of the greyhound racing handle; revenues have declined (FY2023: $304,613; FY2024: $206,880). The statement notes this revenue source is diminishing and the long‑term fiscal effect of elimination may be minimal.
- Administrative/procedural effects: Arkansas Racing Commission would need to update rules and enforcement procedures to remove greyhound-related wagering provisions and ensure compliance. Minimal additional state resources expected; adequate lead time provided before the effective date.
Who would be affected
- Directly affected: greyhound racing franchise holders, casino licensees (as defined), bettors placing wagers on greyhound races, and businesses/employees tied to greyhound racing and simulcast operations in Arkansas.
- Indirectly affected: Arkansas Racing Commission rulemaking and enforcement, local economies around any greyhound facilities, and vendors providing simulcast or pari‑mutuel services tied to greyhound racing.
Procedural/timeline status (from supplied materials)
- Introduced: January 2, 2025 (sponsors listed in the materials include Rep. M. Brown and Sen. J. Scott).
- Effective date if enacted: January 1, 2028.
- Provided status: Died In Committee (date given: April 3, 2025). (Materials also contain other legislative action entries that appear to originate from a different HB1721 in another state — see note above.)
Bottom line
- This HB 1721 (Arkansas text in the packet) would phase out legal greyhound racing and all live/simulcast wagering on greyhound races in Arkansas effective 1/1/2028, require regulatory clean‑up by the Racing Commission, and is expected to have minimal statewide fiscal impact given declining existing revenue from greyhound wagering. According to the supplied status, the measure did not advance out of committee.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
