With legislation continuing to move through the House — even as the issue is stalled in the Senate — opposition to a measure that would decouple live horse racing from slot machine and card room permits continues to grow.

While that opposition includes individuals affiliated with the industry — from veterinarians to people who transport horses — the largest voice in the room remains the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (FTBOA) and its chief executive, Lonny Powell.

The group has maintained throughout committee hearings that its opposition is rooted in preserving the thoroughbred racing industry, and the countless interests that could not function without live racing. But its opposition ignores key facts and data and is, at least at times, an exercise in hypocrisy.

At issue are two measures proposed this Legislative Session that would decouple the state’s two live racing thoroughbred tracks: Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park. That means the tracks would be able to maintain permits to host slot machines and card rooms without being required to also host a minimum number of live horse races each year.

Thoroughbred race tracks are the only parimutuel facilities in Florida that were not already decoupled under a 2021 law (SB 2A).

A Senate version of the measure (SB 408) was temporarily postponed at the Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Tuesday. But the same day, a House version (HB 1467) cleared the Commerce Committee, teeing it up for the full House floor and paving the way for a potential vote despite the Senate’s reluctance on the issue.

Some lawmakers, including Senate Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo, have already raised questions about the industry’s ongoing need for subsidies, pointing to sharp declines in breeding statistics.

During a recent committee hearing on the Senate bill, Pizzo asked for clarification about claims “that business is going great,” specifically whether the Jockey Club — which has released troubling data for the horse breeding industry in Florida — is a reputable publication, setting up a zinger.

“Certainly it is,” responded Tod Wojciechowski, Director of Sales for the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company and an opponent of the bill.

Pizzo then launched into data from the Jockey Club showing a 60% decline in mares bred of Florida stallions over the last decade, and a 51% drop over the same period in Florida’s foal crop. Wojciechowski acknowledged that the numbers are accurate.

And the drop means the industry needs subsidies.

Last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation establishing permanent yearly distributions of $27.5 million “to promote breeding and racing horses.”

But what hasn’t been addressed is the FTBOA’s role in those subsidies, whether directly or indirectly, or its use of its revenue streams in general.

The FTBOA collects 10% of gross receipts deposited into its Awards Account used to administer the payment of awards to race winners and placers and for general industry promotion. The FTBOA also earns additional revenue from horse breeders and owners required to register their horses with the group, which amount to significant fees that are required to receive awards and incentives.

From 2011 until 2023, the group brought in $29 million in revenue, including $1 million in membership dues, $19 million from registrations and administrative fees, and $7.6 million from slots and electronic wagering under an agreement with the state that began in 2014, according to 990 filings that Florida Politics reviewed.

During that same time, the group spent nearly $10 million on executive compensation and employee benefits and $3.1 million on lobbyists, consultants and lawyers. The FTBOA spent just $1.7 million on “advertising/promotion” of the industry.

And its CEO, Powell, has earned more than $3.1 million since he was tapped to run the nonprofit in 2012. That includes more than $283,000 in untaxed benefits, $165,000 in bonuses and $98,000 in deferred compensation, according to the 990s reviewed.

Yet the industry has continued its decline. In addition to the data Pizzo provided, Florida Jockey Club stats also show a drop in racing, with 3,383 races in 2012 to just 2,688 in 2023, a 20% drop.

The House, meanwhile, seems to recognize problems with the FTBOA’s facilitation of state funding to prop up the industry.

The lower chamber is seeking in a tax proposal (PCB WMC 25-02) an amendment that would maintain the subsidy, but clarify its uses to ensure it benefits the industry and not just the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.

It strikes the Association from existing statutes, removing $5 million specifically directed to the Association. It also removes the Association from references to funding directly for Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park and removes the requirement that horses be registered with the Association.

Meanwhile, there is at least some hypocrisy at play in critics’ opposition to the decoupling legislation. In 2014, Powell was among those who negotiated and promoted a decoupling deal to allow Genting to build an off-track casino in Miami.

Powell, as with others, has also maintained that decoupling thoroughbred tracks in Florida would kill jobs — there are more than 33,000 according to the American Horse Council. But many of those jobs are either low-income, part-time or are supported by immigrant labor.

Graham Motion, a horse trainer, told the horse racing publication Blood Horse earlier this year that 80%-90% of the horse racing industry’s labor force are foreign workers. The comments came in opposition to President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigrant worker visas.

The FTBOA and Powell were among those opposing Trump’s position.

The House version of the decoupling measure includes an amendment to the original bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Adam Anderson, that does provide some protections for the thoroughbred horse racing industry.

That includes a five-year guarantee that racing will continue at Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park, based on a three-year notice requirement before ending racing that cannot begin for at least two years. The Senate bill goes even further, with a seven-year window.

Those concessions have done nothing to quell the FTBOA’s opposition. In a statement following Tuesday’s House Commerce Committee vote, the group called it “toxic decoupling language” and lamented that it would “decimate Florida’s homegrown Thoroughbred industry.”

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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is issuing a subpoena to Roblox, the massive online platform where users play and create games and socialize.

The order demands information about the San Mateo, California-based company’s marketing practices toward children, age-verification methods, and chat room moderation policies.

Uthmeier’s action comes amid growing concerns about the potential exposure of young users to harmful content and interactions with predators on the widely popular platform.

“As a mother and Attorney General, children’s safety and protection are a top priority,” Uthmeier said in a statement. “There are concerning reports that this gaming platform, which is popular among children, is exposing them to harmful content and bad actors. We are issuing a subpoena to Roblox to uncover how this platform is marketing to children and to see what policies they are implementing — if any — to avoid interactions with predators.”

Roblox, which features millions of user-generated games and interactive environments, reported over 85 million daily active users in 2024, including an estimated 40% under age 13.

Reports have surfaced alleging that children using the Roblox platform have encountered graphic or inappropriate material and that adults have been able to contact minors through their communication features.

On April 2, Roblox Chief Safety Officer Matt Kaufman announced the launch of three additional parental controls on its platform, which are designed to enhance family safety.

The new controls will enable parents to limit who their child can connect with, monitor which experiences their child engages with most frequently, and restrict access to specific experiences deemed unsuitable.

The company also highlighted a refreshed Safety Center, which offers updated safety guides, resources, tools, and instructions for parents utilizing these features.

The Florida subpoena is specifically demanding that Roblox produce extensive documentation, including:

— Data showing time spent on the platform by users 16 and younger, broken down by age.

— Examples of all marketing materials directed at children or suggesting the platform’s suitability for young users, including details on promotions, influencer marketing, and social media campaigns.

— Documents outlining steps Roblox takes to prevent children’s exposure to mature content and moderate chat interactions.

— Records of communications with Florida users reporting abuse and communications with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children related to Florida users.

— Information on age-verification procedures, any audits conducted, and details on how parental controls might be circumvented.

— Details on any known criminal prosecutions arising from contacts made via the platform’s chat features involving children.

— Information regarding the company’s collection and processing of children’s data.

The Attorney General’s office seeks to thoroughly investigate Roblox’s internal policies and practices to ensure adequate safeguards are in place to protect young Floridians online.

Roblox has not yet issued a public response to the subpoena.

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U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna reported nearly $549,000 in new donations in the first quarter. That’s more than any Florida congressional incumbent being targeted by an opposing party in 2026.

The St. Petersburg Republican closed the quarter with nearly $376,000 in cash on hand, according to her April quarterly report with the Federal Election Commission.

That leaves her well positioned as she seeks a third term, even before any political opponent has filed to run against her in 2026. But Luna likely will need the funds, as Democrats early in the cycle announced plans to rigorously challenge the Congresswoman for her job representing Florida’s 13th Congressional District.

House Majority PAC, the super PAC dedicated to expanding the Democratic caucus in the House, announced in December that Luna’s district would be on a list of targeted seats held by the GOP. And just this month, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee listed CD 13 as a “District in Play” and started a fund to support whatever Democrat Luna faces in the 2026 General Election.

That may be Whitney Fox, who appeared at a Democrat-organized town hall in Luna’s district at a time that House leadership is discouraging Republicans holding such events. Luna in November fended off a challenge from Fox, defeating the Democrat with 55% of the vote. Fox hasn’t filed this cycle, nor has any Democrat.

But Luna underperformed Republican Donald Trump, who won Florida’s electoral votes on his road back to the White House. Democrats are hoping for a major political backlash against Trump’s policies during the Midterms next year.

The bulk of contributions reported by Luna, more than $277,000 worth, came from individual contributions, including nearly $174,000 worth of unitemized contributions of $200 or less.

A significant amount came in a transfer of more than $252,000 from the APL Victory Fund, a leadership fund tied to Luna for joint fundraising.

Some major donations of note in her reports include $7,000, the maximum allowed from an individual, from PayPal founder Peter Thiel. Midland Energy CEO Javaid Anwar similarly has hit the $7,000 limit in giving to Luna, as has Miami Beach investment fund manager Saul Fox.

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