Jacob Ogles
A jai alai bill will be spiked to the Senate floor a day early.
Senate Rules Committee Chair Kathleen Passidomo called to waive chamber rules and allow the legislation (SB 622) to be heard on the floor on Tuesday, a day earlier than expected. The legislation allows any permitted pari-mutuel to lease facilities to professional jai alai permit-holders in a 35-mile radius.
Passidomo said moving the vote up in the schedule was nothing remarkable.
“Moved from tomorrow to today. Nothing odd here,” she told Florida Politics.
Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, a Doral Republican and the bill’s sponsor, said the change caught her off guard.
“I don’t know why it was placed on today’s Special Order Calendar,” she said. “I was planning to present tomorrow or later this week.”
Rep. Tiffany Esposito, an Estero Republican, sponsored the House companion (HB 709). That legislation advanced through the House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee, but has not been heard by the House Commerce Committee.
The legislation could offer a lifeline to jai alai operators and create a new revenue source for other facility owners, such as horse tracks.
Current law only allows the leasing of property by pari-mutuels to others with the same class of permit.
The legislation advanced through the Senate Regulated Industries Committee, Agriculture Appropriations Committee and Fiscal Policy Committee on unanimous votes.
Florida law since the 1930s has allowed pari-mutuel permits to be issued for jai alai, greyhound racing and horse racing, though a constitutional amendment in 2018 effectively ended dog racing in the state. Pari-mutuels are allowed to conduct pool betting, with winnings distributed from wagers. The industry gets regulated by the Florida Gaming Control Commission.
Currently, jai alai operators can only operate at seven permitted facilities in the state, while 10 jai alai operators hold active licenses. But only Dania Jai Alai and Magic City Jai Alai held any live games in the 2023-’24 fiscal year, according to a staff report on the bill. The World Jai Alai Association told Axios earlier this year its lease at Magic City Casino was expiring and events would likely have to move to a new venue.
The legislation headed to the floor would allow horse tracks to host jai alai, so long as they are operating within 35 miles of one another. That could produce a revenue source for tracks and generate savings for jai alai, a sport that requires significant stadium size despite diminishing popularity.
As for the scheduling, lawmakers are fighting the clock for bills to be heard in the final days of the Legislative Session. All policy bills must pass or die before the close of business on Friday, even though budget talks will likely force the extension of Session.
