Macon Reporter

Sue Scherer introduced HB1852 in the Illinois House on Jan. 28, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Removes provision stating that no organization licensee conducting its race meeting in a county bordering the Mississippi River and having a population greater than 230,000 may be a host track for its race meeting. Makes changes in provisions regarding organizations that may not conduct a horse race meeting, the standardbred racetrack in Cook County, the application for an organization license, and wagering. Adds provisions concerning the standardbred racetrack in Macon County. Effective immediately."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, removing certain restrictions on host tracks in counties bordering the Mississippi River with populations over 230,000. It modifies provisions involving organizations unable to conduct horse race meetings, standardbred racetrack operations in Cook County, and the application process for organization licenses and wagering activities. Additionally, it addresses new licensing provisions for a standardbred racetrack in Macon County and establishes guidelines for issuing organization licenses, including requirements for race scheduling, financial integrity, and minority recruitment plans. Effective immediately, the bill aims to enhance regulatory oversight and expand standardbred racing opportunities in Illinois.

Scherer graduated from Illinois State University with a BS.

Sue Scherer is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 96th House District. She replaced previous state representative Darlene Senger in 2013.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB1852	01/28/2025	Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Removes provision stating that no organization licensee conducting its race meeting in a county bordering the Mississippi River and having a population greater than 230,000 may be a host track for its race meeting. Makes changes in provisions regarding organizations that may not conduct a horse race meeting, the standardbred racetrack in Cook County, the application for an organization license, and wagering. Adds provisions concerning the standardbred racetrack in Macon County. Effective immediately.