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Bill

SB 1180

Relating to ballot measures.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by James Manning and 1 co-sponsor

Shifts pari‑mutuel tax remittance to the Illinois Racing Board and redefines grant timing, raising board oversight of wagering, funds distribution, and related operations.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · SB 1180

SB 1180 — IL RACING BOARD — VARIOUS (Introduced version)

Status (selected): Introduced Jan. 24, 2025; referred to Assignments; Rule 3‑9(a) / Re‑referred to Assignments (as of Apr. 11, 2025). Sponsor: Sen. Bill Cunningham. Effective date: immediate (as written).

Purpose / Intent

Amend the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 to (1) clarify/adjust administration of pari‑mutuel and simulcast/inter‑track wagering, (2) change certain fiscal remittance and grant‑distribution procedures, and (3) repeal or revise some operational provisions (including temporary deposit authority and a county‑fair drug testing program). The changes are designed to shift administrative responsibility and modernize wagering and fund distribution rules.

Key provisions

  • Statutory changes: amends 230 ILCS 5/26, 5/27, 5/28.1, and 5/31.1; repeals 230 ILCS 5/15.1 and 5/34.3.
  • Appointment authority: authorizes the Illinois Racing Board to appoint the Director of Mutuels as the State director for inter‑track wagering and simulcast wagering for inter‑track wagering licensees and locations.
  • Pari‑mutuel tax remittance: requires the pari‑mutuel tax collected at wagering facilities and on advance deposit wagering to be remitted to the Illinois Racing Board rather than the Department of Revenue.
  • Charitable grant distributions: gives the Board discretion to set the schedule for distributing contributed funds to charitable organizations based on each grantee’s estimated expenditures (replacing a hard annual Dec. 31 distribution deadline).
  • Unexpended funds handling: unexpended grant funds recovered in a grant year are to be redistributed to the charitable organization(s) selected in the next grant year (instead of automatic reversion or other treatment).
  • Financial/operational cleanup:
    • Repeals provisions authorizing daily temporary deposits of certain fees.
    • Repeals requirement that the Board and Department of Agriculture establish a county‑fair horse drug‑testing program.
    • Various wagering‑related clarifications (electronic advance wagering recording, ticket honoring rules, inter‑state simulcast arrangements) are updated throughout Section 26 (text partially revised in the bill).

Who is affected

  • Illinois Racing Board (additional administrative/fiduciary responsibilities).
  • Racetrack licensees, inter‑track wagering licensees and simulcast operators (operational and tax/remittance changes).
  • Charitable grantees receiving funds via racing‑related contributions (timing and scheduling changes).
  • Department of Revenue and Department of Agriculture (shifted remittance duties; repeal of fair drug‑testing mandate).
  • Bettors and advance‑wager providers may be affected by clarified electronic recording and ticket procedures.

Potential impact

  • Administrative: shifts remittance flow and grant scheduling to the Racing Board, which may require internal capacity changes.
  • Fiscal: moving tax remittances to the Board could alter cash‑flow and accounting processes between agencies; the bill does not specify new revenue rates.
  • Operational: repeal of county‑fair drug‑testing requirement removes an existing program mandate (impacts Dept. of Agriculture and county fairs).
  • No explicit appropriation or estimated fiscal impact included in the text provided.

Procedural / Next steps

  • Bill was introduced in the Senate and has been referred to committee(s) including Assignments and Economic Development (per journal entries). It remains pending further committee consideration and floor action. If enacted as introduced, most changes would take effect immediately.

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

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