Prohibits certain persons from receiving compensation for legal fees, consulting, or other work performed for an industrial development agency or an economic assistance corporation

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Michaelle Solages

If Freehold Raceways ceases live racing, funds would be reallocated to Meadowlands to fund at least 35 standardbred race dates there until Freehold resumes.

PRINT NUMBER 5090A

Summary — A5090 (Print 5090A)

Status: Print No. 5090A — introduced Dec. 12, 2024; committee amendments reported Dec. 16, 2024; substituted by S3921 (1R) Dec. 19, 2024; referred to Governmental Operations (Feb. 12, 2025); amended and recommitted (May 21, 2025).

Note: The document text provided for A5090 concerns standardbred horse-racing purse subsidies (amendment to P.L.2019, c.36). The bill title in the supplied header appears inconsistent with the bill text; this summary follows the bill text.

Purpose

To ensure that state-appropriated purse-subsidy funds originally designated for overnight races at Freehold Raceway continue to support New Jersey standardbred racing when Freehold is not conducting live racing, by reallocating those funds to Meadowlands overnight purses and requiring a minimum number of race dates at Meadowlands in lieu of Freehold dates.

Key provisions

Amends P.L.2019, c.36 (C.5:5-99.1), which directs an annual appropriation of $20,000,000 (from FY2019 and for each of the ten fiscal years thereafter) to the New Jersey Racing Commission for horse-racing purse subsidies.

Under current allocation to the standardbred industry: Meadowlands 60%; Freehold 16%; New Jersey Sire Stakes 12%; NJ-sired horse bonuses 6%; breeder awards 6%.

If the permit holder at Freehold Raceway ceases to conduct live racing programs, the New Jersey Racing Commission must reallocate any and all funds that would have gone to Freehold overnight purses to Meadowlands overnight purses until live racing resumes at Freehold.

Committee amendment: Reallocated funds must be used solely to conduct not fewer than 35 standardbred race dates at Meadowlands that otherwise would have been held at Freehold. That 35-date minimum may be reduced with the written agreement of the Standardbred Breeders' and Owners' Association of New Jersey.

If live racing at Freehold resumes under a permit holder, the 16% Freehold allocation may again be allocated to Freehold overnight purses.

The bill does not change allocations to the thoroughbred industry (Monmouth Park) or allocations for Sire Stakes, NJ-sired bonuses, or breeder awards.

Who is affected

New Jersey Racing Commission (administration and reallocation authority)

Meadowlands Racetrack (receives reallocated purse funds and required to conduct additional race dates)

Freehold Raceway and its permit holder (would lose overnight purse subsidies while not conducting live racing; would regain them if live racing resumes)

Standardbred owners, trainers, drivers, breeders and the Standardbred Breeders' and Owners' Association of NJ (impacts race opportunities, purses, and scheduling)

Fiscal impact and timing

The underlying statute provides $20 million annually for 10 years beginning FY2019 (already in law). The bill reallocates existing portions of that appropriation; the Assembly Appropriations Committee did not certify a separate fiscal note.

The act takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies during periods when Freehold is not conducting live racing.

Procedural / related bills

Primary sponsor: Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages.

Companion / related measures: S3921 (substituted), S4039, S7555 (prior session), S1543 (prior session), A4670 (prior session).

Most recent actions include committee reporting with amendments (12/16/2024) and subsequent referrals and amendments in 2025.