Legislation newly introduced by state Delegate David A. Reid seeks to modify how revenue from pari-mutuel betting is allocated, making adjustments to distributions that include state, local and industry groups, the Virginia State House reported.
The legislation, known as HB49, was filed Jan. 14, 2026, during the regular session. The measure is officially titled: “Pari-mutuel wagering; historical horse racing, percentage retained for distribution.”
Below, we provide an outline based on the statutory language, which has been clarified for understanding.
This proposal would update the way Virginia allocates retained money from pari-mutuel betting across live, simulcast and historical horse racing at both racetracks and satellite locations. The bill amends set percentages for the state, local governments, purse funds, track operators and a range of industry-related entities such as the Virginia Breeders Fund, a veterinary college, a horse center, the horse industry board, and the Thoroughbred Association. It establishes that any contract determining remaining holdback must obtain commission approval. Additionally, the bill increases allocations to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund, and creates designated amounts for the Shenandoah County Agricultural Foundation and Great Meadow Foundation. There are adjustments to locality share splits for historical horse racing at satellite sites, specifying how shares will be divided before and after July 1, 2026.
This measure is co-sponsored by Rep. David A. Reid (Democrat-28th District), Rep. John Chilton McAuliff (Democrat-30th District), Rep. Michael J. Webert (Republican-61st District), plus two further sponsors.
Reid has introduced another 18 bills since the regular session began.
He received his Bachelor of Arts from Northeastern Oklahoma State University in 1984.
Reid, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected to serve the 28th District in the Virginia State House in 2024, succeeding Tara Durant.
In Virginia, the legislative process starts when a bill is introduced in either the House of Delegates or the Senate. From there, it is assigned to one or more committees, which discuss and may amend the legislation. If a committee passes the bill, it advances to a vote in both the House and Senate. Bills approved by both must go to the governor, who may sign, veto, or allow the legislation to become law without signature. The Virginia General Assembly opens its regular session annually on the second Monday of January, considering hundreds of legislative proposals each session, though not all ultimately pass into law.
| Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| David A. Reid, John Chilton McAuliff, Michael J. Webert, Hyland F. “Buddy” Fowler, Jr., and Justin Pence | HB49 | 01/14/2026 | Pari-mutuel wagering; historical horse racing, percentage retained for distribution. |
| David A. Reid | HB141 | 01/14/2026 | Virginia Passenger Rail Authority; certain exemptions. |
| David A. Reid, Marty Martinez, and Gretchen M Bulova | HB182 | 01/14/2026 | High school graduation requirements; history and social studies credits. |
| David A. Reid | HB183 | 01/14/2026 | First-time home buyer savings plan; townhouses, principal limits. |
| David A. Reid | HB269 | 01/14/2026 | Motorized mobility vehicles; established as a new class of vehicle, civil penalties. |
| David A. Reid, Karen Keys-Gamarra, and Virgil Thornton | HB369 | 01/14/2026 | Electric utilities; renewable portfolio standard program, zero-carbon electricity, etc. |
| David A. Reid | HB370 | 01/14/2026 | Industrial/commercial use facilities; local authority on requiring water consumption in zoning ordinance. |
| David A. Reid, Dan I. Helmer, and Virgil Thornton | HB404 | 01/14/2026 | Enslaved Ancestors College Access Scholarship and Memorial Program; scholarships, administration. |
| David A. Reid | HB406 | 01/14/2026 | Workers’ compensation; disability of law-enforcement officer, spousal wage replacement, report. |
| David A. Reid | HB409 | 01/14/2026 | Passing a stopped school bus; divided highways, access roads, and certain driveways. |
| David A. Reid | HB410 | 01/14/2026 | School boards; participation in SAT School Day program required, student participation. |
| David A. Reid | HB411 | 01/14/2026 | Commissioner of Highways; certain agreements with U.S. Department of Transportation. |
| David A. Reid | HB562 | 01/14/2026 | Electric cooperatives; authorized to establish and implement a virtual power plant program. |
| David A. Reid | HB563 | 01/14/2026 | Personal property taxation; establishes classification for major energy consumer equipment upgrades. |
| David A. Reid | HB564 | 01/14/2026 | Bus obstruction monitoring systems; parking, stopping, and standing enforcement. |
| David A. Reid | HB1127 | 01/14/2026 | Toll rate; increases State Corporation Commission duration and timeline for review. |
| David A. Reid | HB1130 | 01/14/2026 | Workforce housing for employees; county bd. of supervisor or school bd., lease of surplus property. |
| David A. Reid | HB1132 | 01/14/2026 | Data center tax revenue; creates local residential renewable energy incentive program. |
| David A. Reid and Phil M. Hernandez | HB1133 | 01/14/2026 | Virginia Solar Energy and Battery Energy Storage Systems Program; established. |
