The Florida Legislature has concluded policy discussions for the 2025 Regular Legislative Session, effectively killing the proposed decoupling provisions of Senate Bill 408, House Bill 105, and House Bill 1467, all of which the Florida Senate declined to approve for final passage, the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association said in a press release late on Friday.
However, Florida law requires the legislature to pass a balanced state budget each year. To meet this constitutional requirement, the legislature has extended the session through June 6, but has limited the focus to items related to the state budget.
Lonny Powell, FTBOA CEO, issued the following statement to commend Florida leaders who have stood with the state's Thoroughbred industry, while emphasizing the importance of continued collaborative efforts to preserve and strengthen itself:
“The conclusion of Florida's regular legislative session brings encouraging news for our beloved Thoroughbred legacy and the thousands of Floridians who dedicate their livelihoods to this proud tradition. The FTBOA–and the many horsemen groups, individuals, and elected officials who joined our efforts–once again defended our industry from an ill-advised attempt at decoupling, just as we did in 2012, 2016, 2018, and 2021.
“We are deeply grateful to the many breeders, owners, trainers, vets, and horsemen who traveled to Tallahassee to share their heartfelt opposition with lawmakers. Your voices had a clear impact and made a real difference. We also thank the lawmakers who championed our industry's values, engaged thoughtfully with our members, and stood firm against proposals that threatened the foundation of Florida's $3.24 billion Thoroughbred industry.
“As the legislature continues to consider matters related to the state budget in the coming weeks, we will remain firm in our opposition to any effort to weaken Florida's Thoroughbred industry. We look forward to continuing our work with Florida's leaders and stakeholders on long-term solutions that preserve and grow this vital industry for years to come.”
A number of industry groups led the fight against decoupling which surfaced once again as a major issue for the Thoroughbred racing beginning in the early spring. Owners, trainers and proponents made repeated trips to state legislature to lobby for the sport's existence. Governor Ron DeSantis during a surprise visit to the OBS Sale expressed his support for the state's horsemen.
Thoroughbred Racing Initiative senior advisor Damon Thayer said in a post on X, “We embrace the hard work that lies ahead. We remain committed to a collaborative effort, working together on a legislative package that will be a victory for the future of Florida racing. We are proud of and grateful for our coalition of horse owners, trainers, breeders, veterinarians, horse transportation, feed and tack companies and the thousands of hard-working men and women at Florida's racetracks and farms that stood together throughout the session.”
Statement from TRI senior advisor @damon_thayer :
With our industry-wide coalition apparently successful in defeating decoupling this legislative session, we know our work is just beginning. All we asked for was the opportunity to be heard, to explain what was at stake and to… pic.twitter.com/mGLdZYZaBK— Thoroughbred Racing Initiative (@TBRacingInit) May 3, 2025
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