What's happening
This bill requires all New York racetracks to install and maintain high-definition surveillance cameras with sound, with penalties for noncompliance.
Why it matters
This bill dramatically increases oversight and transparency in racetrack operations. by mandating 24/7 surveillance with both video and audio, including in sensitive areas like individual stalls and barns, which could help deter and detect abuse, neglect, or rule violations involving both humans and horses.
Requiring footage to be stored and accessible for at least three years. means any incidents—such as doping, animal mistreatment, or disputes—can be thoroughly investigated after the fact, making cover-ups or delayed reporting much harder.
The hefty daily fine ($10,000 per day) for noncompliance creates strong financial pressure for racetracks to comply quickly and consistently. , potentially driving up operational costs but also ensuring rapid adoption and ongoing maintenance of surveillance systems.
The inclusion of sound recording, not just video, increases the potential for privacy concerns among workers. and may trigger discussions about balancing workplace oversight and personal privacy, especially given the broad scope of areas under surveillance.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Cameras at Racetracks
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to racing and wagering
- Referred to racing and wagering
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
741
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, COLTON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Racing and Wagering
AN ACT to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in relation to requiring the installation and use of surveillance cameras in all racetracks
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is amended by adding a new section 907 to read as follows:
§ 907. Surveillance cameras. 1. High definition state-of-the-art surveillance cameras with quality sound capability shall be installed, kept properly maintained and operated and utilized in all racetracks, including, but not limited to, the entire stable area and be capable of monitoring human and equine traffic twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, in and out of individual stalls, barns and surrounding areas. The video footage including sound shall be able to be viewed and listened to in real time and shall be stored and available for detailed subsequent review for no less than three years from the date of surveillance as provided for under this section.
2. Any racetrack that fails to implement the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine of ten thousand dollars per day of noncompliance.
§ 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02266-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.