The bill amends various sections of the Nebraska Revised Statutes concerning the State Racing and Gaming Commission, introducing new definitions and modifying the commission's powers and duties. Key changes include the requirement for racetrack enclosures to obtain licensure, the renaming and restructuring of the Racetrack Gaming Fund, and the elimination of the Racing Cash Fund. It mandates fingerprinting and criminal history checks for individuals involved in horseracing, with certain exemptions, and establishes that racetrack enclosure licenses are separate from licenses to conduct horseracing meets, with a new three-year validity period for these licenses. The commission's authority is expanded to issue licenses for race meetings for up to three years, down from five, and the bill also repeals outdated sections to ensure current regulations.

Additionally, the bill sets specific operational requirements for racetracks based on their status as of April 20, 2022, including a minimum number of live racing days and horseraces annually, with increasing requirements for existing racetracks and gradual standards for new ones. It introduces structured payment plans for gaming operator license fees, outlines the commission's powers regarding licensing and compliance, and mandates socioeconomic studies related to horseracing and gaming. The bill also clarifies tax obligations for authorized gaming operators and modifies the Racetrack Gaming Fund to include all related fees and tax receipts, ensuring that investment earnings are credited to the General Fund starting October 1, 2024. Furthermore, it streamlines the legal framework by repealing several existing statutes and clarifying liability conditions for equine activity sponsors and professionals.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2-1201, 2-1202, 2-1203, 2-1203.01, 2-1203.02, 2-1204, 2-1205, 2-1223, 2-1225, 2-1244, 2-1245, 9-1101, 9-1103, 9-1106, 9-1107, 9-1108, 9-1203, 9-1205, 9-1206, 9-1207, 9-1208, 9-1209
Final Reading: 2-1201, 2-1202, 2-1203, 2-1203.01, 2-1203.02, 2-1204, 2-1205, 2-1223, 2-1225, 2-1244, 2-1245, 9-1101, 9-1103, 9-1106, 9-1107, 9-1108, 9-1203, 9-1205, 9-1206, 9-1207, 9-1208, 9-1209
Slip Law: 2-1201, 2-1202, 2-1203, 2-1203.01, 2-1203.02, 2-1204, 2-1205, 2-1223, 2-1225, 2-1244, 2-1245, 9-1101, 9-1103, 9-1106, 9-1107, 9-1108, 9-1203, 9-1205, 9-1206, 9-1207, 9-1208, 9-1209