FTC Opens Comment Period On HISA’s 2027 Budget Plan

The Federal Trade Commission has published the proposed 2027 budget for the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, opening a formal window for public comment before the spending plan can move forward. The notice, posted in the Federal Register, marks the latest step in the ongoing federal oversight process for the organization tasked with setting safety and medication standards across the U.S. thoroughbred racing industry.

Under the structure established by federal law, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, commonly known as HISA, must submit its annual budget to the FTC for review. The Commission then publishes the proposal so that stakeholders, including racetrack operators, horsemen’s associations, veterinarians and members of the public, can weigh in before the budget is finalized. The FTC has not disclosed the specific dollar figures included in the 2027 proposal in this announcement, but it confirmed that the document has been submitted and is now open for review and comment.

HISA was created to bring uniform national rules to a sport that had historically been regulated on a state-by-state basis, resulting in inconsistent medication rules, safety protocols and enforcement standards. Its funding model relies on assessments paid by state racing commissions and industry participants, which in turn makes the annual budget process a closely watched event for tracks and horsemen who ultimately bear those costs. The comment period gives affected parties a chance to flag concerns about fee levels, program priorities or administrative costs before the FTC signs off on the plan.

The FTC’s role in this process stems from its statutory responsibility to oversee HISA’s rulemaking and financial operations, a function assigned to the Commission when Congress established the authority. This oversight includes reviewing proposed rules, enforcement actions and now the annual budget, ensuring that the private, non-governmental authority remains accountable to a federal body even as it operates independently of state racing commissions.

The publication comes at a time when horse racing’s regulatory framework continues to draw scrutiny from lawmakers, industry groups and animal welfare advocates alike. Since HISA’s anti-doping and safety rules took effect, the organization has faced legal challenges from some state racing commissions and horsemen’s groups over its authority and funding structure, even as supporters argue it has helped standardize testing and reduce inconsistencies that plagued the sport for decades. Budget proposals like this one are often a flashpoint in that broader debate, since funding levels directly affect how aggressively the authority can pursue testing, investigations and safety initiatives at tracks nationwide.

More broadly, the racing industry has been under financial pressure in recent years, with declining wagering handle at some tracks, rising operational costs and competition from other forms of legalized gambling squeezing revenue across the sport. Any increase in HISA-related assessments tends to draw attention from track operators and horsemen already managing tight margins, making the public comment process a meaningful opportunity for industry voices to shape how the authority allocates its resources heading into 2027.

The FTC has not indicated when it expects to conclude its review of the proposed budget or when a final determination might be issued. Typically, after the comment period closes, the Commission evaluates the feedback received before approving, rejecting or requesting revisions to the submitted plan. Members of the public and industry stakeholders wishing to weigh in have been directed to submit their comments through the official Federal Register notice.

According to the announcement, details of the proposed budget and comment procedures are available through the Federal Trade Commission, which continues to oversee HISA’s financial and regulatory operations under federal law.