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SB 251NEW MEXICOSession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

New Mexico Senate Bill 251 Prohibits Program Training and Ownership in Horse Racing

Original title: HORSE RACING PROGRAM TRAINING & OWNERSHIP

Last action · February 13, 2026: STBTC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendationSponsors: Candy Ezzell and 2 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

New Mexico Senate Bill 251 bans the use of s and s in horse racing and authorizes the state racing commission to refuse, suspend, or revoke licenses for individuals engaging in these practices.

Why it matters

Licensed horse owners and trainers face license suspension, revocation, or denial if they participate in arrangements where an official program lists someone other than the actual owner or controller of the racehorse.

Background

State of New Mexico regulates horse racing through statutes governing licensing, wagering, and racing integrity. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

horse owners and trainers

Licensees are prohibited from participating in program training or program ownership arrangements under threat of license suspension, revocation, or fines.

Directly affected

state racing commission

The commission receives explicit statutory authority to investigate, penalize, and deny or revoke licenses for program training and owning schemes.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a program owner under this bill?

A is a licensed owner who is identified on the official race program as the owner of a horse that is actually owned by someone else.

What penalties can the state racing commission impose for program training or owning?

The commission may refuse to issue a license, suspend or revoke an existing license, or order other disciplinary measures including the imposition of fines.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in Senate committee.

Procedural history

3 actions

Feb 13, 2026Senate
STBTC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation
Feb 5, 2026Senate
SCC: Reported by committee to fall within the purview of a 30 day session
Feb 4, 2026SenateCommittee
Sent to SCC - Referrals: SCC/STBTC/SJC

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

gaming control board, Rex Wilson, state racing commission and 3 more

Organizationgaming control board“Referred to as the board under the Horse Racing Act definitions.”Map →

PersonRex Wilson“Introduced Senate Bill 251 in the New Mexico Senate.”Map →

Organizationstate racing commission“Granted authority to discipline licensees engaging in program training or owning”Map →

PersonMoe Maestas“Introduced Senate Bill 251 in the New Mexico Senate.”Map →

OrganizationAmerican quarter horse association“Registers quarter horses.”Map →

PersonCandy Ezzell“Introduced Senate Bill 251 in the New Mexico Senate.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.nmlegis.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 45)
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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