HB0856 changes how money from Maryland’s Racetrack Facility Renewal Account is distributed. Under current law, most of the account is directed to the State Lottery Fund, while the remaining share is allocated to Rosecroft Raceway and Ocean Downs Race Course under a commission-established formula. This bill revises that structure so that, for each fiscal year Rosecroft Raceway is used for live racing, 20% of the available funds continue to go to Rosecroft and Ocean Downs according to regulation. If Rosecroft Raceway closes and is no longer used for live racing, the bill instead directs 10% to Ocean Downs and 10% to race courses within the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area.
The bill also changes the treatment of the portion of funds available to Rosecroft or the Fair Hill race courses by requiring $200,000 annually, beginning in fiscal 2026, to be transferred to Employ Prince George’s, Inc. for workforce development and support for small, minority-, and women-owned businesses. It states that these funds are intended to supplement, not replace, other funding, and requires Employ Prince George’s to partner with similar organizations if it cannot spend the money within 12 months. In addition, for fiscal 2026 the Governor must include a $4.5 million appropriation to the Racetrack Facility Renewal Account for Rosecroft Raceway.
In practical terms, the bill amends State Government Article § 9-1A-29 to redirect racetrack renewal funds among the State Lottery Fund, Rosecroft Raceway, Ocean Downs, Fair Hill-area race courses, and Employ Prince George’s, Inc. It also preserves the State Racing Commission’s role in adopting regulations and establishing allocation formulas, while adding a new contingency for the event that Rosecroft Raceway ceases live racing operations.
The overall sentiment appears supportive of maintaining and redistributing racetrack-related funding to preserve racing facilities and support related economic development, especially in Prince George’s County. The bill’s structure suggests an effort to balance interests among racing venues and local workforce/business development priorities. No committee testimony or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of opposition or debate in the supplied materials.
Notable points of contention likely center on how the funds are split if Rosecroft closes, whether the new transfer to Employ Prince George’s should come from racetrack renewal money, and the requirement for a large FY 2026 appropriation to Rosecroft. Stakeholders most likely affected include Rosecroft Raceway, Ocean Downs Race Course, race courses in the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, Employ Prince George’s, Inc., the State Racing Commission, and the State Lottery Fund.
HB0856 amends Maryland State Government § 9-1A-29 governing the Racetrack Facility Renewal Account. It changes the allocation formula for account funds, adds a new distribution path if Rosecroft Raceway stops live racing, requires annual transfers to Employ Prince George’s, Inc., and directs a FY 2026 appropriation to the account for Rosecroft. The bill affects racetrack operators, the State Racing Commission, Prince George’s County workforce and small-business development efforts, and the State Lottery Fund.
Based on the bill text, the measure appears generally favorable toward racetrack facility support and local economic development, with an emphasis on preserving funding for racing-related uses while also directing some money to workforce and minority- and women-owned business development. No committee transcripts or vote details were provided, so the available record does not show explicit support or opposition from legislators or witnesses.
The main potential points of contention are the reallocation of funds away from the State Lottery Fund and toward specific racetracks and Employ Prince George’s, Inc., as well as the contingency that shifts money to Ocean Downs and Fair Hill-area race courses if Rosecroft closes. Stakeholders who may disagree include those prioritizing statewide lottery revenues, supporters of Rosecroft, operators at Ocean Downs, and advocates for Prince George’s County economic development, depending on how they view the fairness and purpose of the distribution formula.