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S 3921

Requires sunscreen be made available at all state parks, recreational facilities, historic sites or programs and other appropriate locations

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tony Palumbo

If Freehold stops live racing, funds for standardbred purses are temporarily redirected to Meadowlands to cover at least 35 Meadowlands race dates, then revert when Freehold resume

REFERRED TO CULTURAL AFFAIRS, TOURISM, PARKS AND RECREATION
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Bill Summary · S 3921

Summary — S3921 (P.L.2025, c.11)

Status: Approved January 30, 2025 (P.L.2025, c.11). Introduced December 5, 2024. Sponsor: Sen. Anthony H. Palumbo.

Purpose

To provide for temporary reallocation of state standardbred overnight purse subsidies from Freehold Raceway to Meadowlands Racetrack during periods when Freehold is not conducting live racing programs, and to specify how reallocated funds must be used.

Key provisions

  • Amends section 1 of P.L.2019, c.36 (C.5:5-99.1), which establishes $20,000,000 annually (appropriated from the General Fund for ten fiscal years beginning FY2019) for horse racing purse subsidies.
  • Confirms existing allocation structure:
    • 50% of the $20,000,000 to thoroughbred industry (100% of that to Monmouth Park overnight purses).
    • 50% to standardbred industry, distributed as:
    • 60% Meadowlands overnight purses
    • 16% Freehold overnight purses
    • 12% New Jersey Sire Stakes purses
    • 6% purse bonuses for New Jersey‑sired horses
    • 6% breeders awards purses
  • Adds exception: if live racing programs cease at Freehold Raceway, the New Jersey Racing Commission must reallocate all funds otherwise designated for Freehold overnight purses to Meadowlands overnight purses until a permit holder resumes live racing at Freehold.
  • Committee amendment requires that any funds reallocated to Meadowlands be used solely to conduct not less than 35 standardbred race dates at Meadowlands that otherwise would have been held at Freehold Raceway. The 35‑date minimum may be decreased only by written agreement with the Standardbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association of New Jersey.
  • If a permit holder later resumes live racing at Freehold, the allocation may revert to the original distribution.

Who is affected

  • New Jersey Racing Commission (responsible for reallocations)
  • Meadowlands Racetrack (will receive reallocated funds and must use them for specified race dates)
  • Freehold Raceway and its permit holders (loss and potential restoration of purse subsidies tied to live racing status)
  • Standardbred industry participants (trainers, owners, breeders), New Jersey Sire Stakes program, and breeders’ awards recipients
  • Monmouth Park/thoroughbred industry (no change to current allocations)

Procedural/timing aspects

  • The act takes effect immediately upon approval.
  • The statute amended governs appropriations of $20 million annually for ten years beginning in FY2019; this bill does not change the overall annual appropriation amount, only the temporary distribution of the standardbred share when Freehold is not operating live racing.

Fiscal impact

  • The bill does not change the total $20 million annual appropriation. The Senate committee reported the bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.

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

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