State Lottery Fund - Laurel Race Course - Local Impact Aid
Summary
HB337 requires the Comptroller to provide supplemental local impact aid from the State Lottery Fund to Anne Arundel County, Howard County, and the City of Laurel beginning after June 30, 2025, using proceeds from the Racetrax lottery game. The aid is tied to Laurel Race Course and is intended to support communities affected by the race course’s operations, with the money distributed among the three jurisdictions in proportion to their existing statutory shares under the racing-related local payment formula.
The bill also directs how the aid must be used. The counties and city must spend the funds on programs and services for communities surrounding Laurel Race Course, including health and mental health services, counseling, substance use awareness and treatment, social services, nutrition and wellness programs, and transportation to off-site medical and wellness services. Anne Arundel County is given a more specific grant-making role, including funding nonprofits with a history of serving backstretch workers and providing Spanish-language staff or translation services, and the funded services must be delivered at or near Laurel Race Course or to residents of the 20724 ZIP code.
Impact
HB337 amends the State Government Article to create a new, time-limited lottery-funded local aid stream and to adjust the State Lottery Fund distribution formula so that Racetrax proceeds are earmarked for Anne Arundel County, Howard County, and the City of Laurel. It also adds conditions limiting payment if Laurel Race Course stops live racing or training, or if backstretch workers are no longer housed on the property, and it establishes use restrictions and eligibility criteria for nonprofit grant recipients. The bill leaves the existing racing-related local payment provisions in the Business Regulation Article intact while layering on this supplemental aid mechanism.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad legislative support and little visible opposition. It passed the House 136-0 and the Senate 46-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The absence of committee transcript material suggests no recorded public controversy in the available materials, and the final enactment reflects a generally favorable view of targeted local assistance for the Laurel Race Course area.
Contention
The main policy questions embedded in the bill concern how narrowly the aid is targeted and who controls the spending. The legislation specifically ties funding to Laurel Race Course, the backstretch workforce, and the 20724 ZIP code, which may limit benefits to a defined set of residents and service providers. It also requires Anne Arundel County to prioritize nonprofits with experience serving backstretch workers and Spanish-speaking staff or translation capacity, which could be seen as both a targeted equity measure and a restriction on eligible grantees. Another built-in point of contention is the sunset and termination triggers: the aid ends if racing/training or backstretch housing ceases, making the funding dependent on the continued operation of the race course.