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S 234

Exempts certain persons from the crime of criminal possession of a firearm, rifle or shotgun in a sensitive location

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Patrick Gallivan

Establishes a State Racing Board under the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to oversee live racing, pari-mutuel wagering and simulcasting, licensing and funding reporting.

REFERRED TO CODES
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Bill Summary · S 234

Summary — S.234 (2025): “An Act to revitalize agriculture, conditioning and simulcasting”

Note on source material
- The bill metadata contains conflicting items (an initial title about firearm exemptions and sponsor names that resemble federal legislators). The actual bill text provided and the docket information indicate this is a Massachusetts bill presented by Senator Paul R. Feeney titled “An Act to revitalize agriculture, conditioning and simulcasting.” This summary is based on the text excerpt provided; the bill appears substantially longer and the excerpt is partly truncated.

Purpose

To reorganize and strengthen state oversight of live racing, pari‑mutuel wagering and simulcasting by creating a dedicated State Racing Board within the Massachusetts Gaming Commission structure; to clarify related definitions (including “Illegal Gaming”); and to adjust authority, licensing and reporting requirements tied to racing and simulcasting operations.

Key provisions (excerpted)

  • Amends the definition of “Illegal Gaming” in chapter 4 to explicitly exclude specified lawful gaming activities: state lottery, games under chapter 23K, sports wagering, wagering on races under chapters 23K 1/4 and 23K 1/2, bingo and charitable gaming under chapter 271, and fantasy contests under section 11M1/2.
  • Adds a definition of “Board” (the state racing board) to chapter 23K.
  • Revises the role of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to:
    • Administer and enforce appeals of decisions of the Board related to pari‑mutuel wagering and simulcasting.
    • Be able to grant simulcasting licenses to gaming establishments, taking into consideration impacts on facilities licensed under chapters 23K 1/4 and 23K 1/2.
  • Creates Section 7A: establishes a State Racing Board with the following features:
    • Three members appointed by the Governor; one designated chair; political‑party balance (no more than two from same party).
    • Qualifications: each member must have at least five years of responsible administrative experience; the chair must also have professional experience in gaming/racing regulation or industry management; at least one member must be a licensed veterinarian with equine racing experience.
    • Restrictions: members may not hold interests in or be otherwise regulated by entities subject to board jurisdiction; no felons or persons under indictment may serve.
    • Terms: five‑year terms; members may serve up to 15 years total; the governor fills vacancies and may remove members for cause.
    • Compensation: members receive salaries up to three‑quarters that of the Commissioner of Administration; the chair receives full commissioner salary; members are full‑time.
    • Administration: an executive director of racing (appointed by the chair) will handle day‑to‑day operations; board may employ necessary staff.
    • Reporting: annual January report to the Legislature detailing deposits and disbursements from the Race Horse Development Fund, Thoroughbred and Standardbred Capital Improvement Trust Funds, racing dates awarded, and other specified information.
    • The board will administer chapters 23K 1/4 and 23K 1/2 and related laws; will serve as host racing/off‑track betting commission under federal law (15 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.).

Who is affected

  • Racing industry stakeholders: racetracks, simulcasting venues, pari‑mutuel licensees, and off‑track betting operations.
  • Gaming establishments seeking simulcasting licenses.
  • State employees and the new executive director of racing; one board seat reserved for a veterinarian with equine experience.
  • State funds tied to horse racing (Race Horse Development Fund, Thoroughbred and Standardbred Capital Improvement Trust Funds).
  • Bettors and consumers of racing and simulcasting services, to the extent regulatory changes affect availability or oversight.

Procedural status & timeline (from provided actions)

  • Filed: January 17–23, 2025; introduced in Senate 01/23/2025.
  • Referred: initially to the Committee on the Judiciary, then to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure; also appears twice as “REFERRED TO CODES” in the record (possible clerical duplication).
  • Hearing scheduled: 06/23/2025 (10:00 AM–1:00 PM) in A‑1.
  • Other entries: “House concurred” and related docket references (SD 2238; companion A 7024).

Notes / limitations

  • The provided bill text is truncated and runs to multiple pages; this summary covers the material in the excerpt. There may be additional substantive provisions elsewhere in the bill (including provisions on agriculture referenced in the title) that are not included here.
  • Some metadata (title referencing firearm exemptions, sponsors named as federal senators) conflicts with the bill text and likely reflects data errors. For official bill language and sponsorship, consult the full text on the Massachusetts Legislature website or the Judiciary/Consumer Protection committee files.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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