Equine-support bill doesn't win, place or show

OLYMPIA–A bill that got out of the gate and was running well, came around the Clubhouse Turn and was in the home stretch when it was scratched at the last minute in the Washington State Senate.

After passing out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee with an amendment that significantly altered the original bill’s intent, House Bill 1928 was sent last week to the Rules Committee and given a spot on the Senate calendar, only to die as lawmakers debating other bills didn’t get HB 1928 addressed before a 5 p.m. Friday, March 4 bill deadline.

The bill, concerning support for the equine industry, would have designated $6 million from sales taxes on equine products and sales, and directed it to the Washington Horse Racing Commission (WHRC) for distribution to support the equine industry: breeders who raise race horses, 4-H and FFA youth, Class C tracks like Dayton and Waitsburg, and, significantly, purse money to entice horse owners to run their steeds at Emerald Downs, Washingtons only Class A track.

“We had it on the schedule and we had time to bring it to the Senate Floor for debate,” said Senator Perry Dozier (R-16-Waitsburg) last Friday, March 4.

The 5 p.m. deadline was looming when, at 4:45 p.m., a recess was called, Dozier said. When the Senate reconvened, at 4:55 p.m., other bills were introduced, leaving HB 1928 to die due to missing the deadline.

“We were so close,” lamented Mike Lydon of Touchet, a horse owner who has worked closely with Dayton Days Inc., the WHRC and legislators over the past two legislative sessions. Lydon helped introduce language derived from a bill passed by Texas lawmakers in 2019 that designated a portion of sales taxes from horse-related purchases.

In testimony by WHRC Executive Director Doug Moore, the Texas horse racing industry has recorded a resurgence since the bill was enacted. Foal production has increased, numbers of horses at sales have gone up and activity at race tracks have benefited, Moore recounted.

Senator Mark Schoesler (R-9-Ritzville) was another eastern Washington senator who supported the bill, which was introduced with bi-partisan support in the House of Representatives by Rep. Joe Schmick (R-9-Colfax). The bill cantered through the House, passing 90-8.

In the Senate, there was enough support for the bill to be read and referred to Ways and Means, which is chaired by Sen. Christine Rolfes (D-23-Bainbridge Island). Sen. Schoesler had introduced an amendment that addressed a housekeeping change requested by the Department of Revenue. Rolfes, in spite of the Committee receiving overwhelming support for the bill through citizen input and testimony in a February 24 hearing, introduced an amendment which removed most of the beneficial language, leaving support for Class C tracks and other equine programs to be funded annually by legislative appropriation instead of sales tax revenue.

With the amendment, HB 1928 cleared Ways and Means and went to the Senate Rules Committee. From Rules, the bill could be placed on the calendar and, during debate on the floor of the Senate, amendments restoring the language stricken by Rolfes’ amendment, could have been introduced.

Dayton Days Inc. officers, including President Tim Donohue, Vice President Loyal Baker, Secretary Charlotte Baker and Treasurer Deanna Vandever, plus other Dayton Days Inc. members, submitted written and verbal testimony at numerous points, including emails urging support of HB 1928 to all involved senators.

Donohue, who leads Dayton Days Inc. and is a member of the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, testified remotely before the House Appropriations Committee on January 31. Baker testified remotely in Donohue’s stead, to the Senate Ways and Means on February 24.