Congress locks in permanent tax break for racetrack owners

What it does

This bill makes permanent a tax depreciation rule that allows motorsports entertainment complexes (racetracks and related facilities) to depreciate their assets over 7 years instead of the standard 15 years. Currently, this 7-year period was set to expire; the bill removes the sunset clause, locking in the accelerated depreciation indefinitely.

Why we flagged it

The bill is a straightforward tax subsidy for a specific industry sector. It removes an expiration date on an accelerated depreciation schedule, permanently reducing tax liability for motorsports facility owners. This is a classic tax carve-out — a narrowly targeted benefit with no public-policy justification beyond industry lobbying.

What the text implies

• The bill locks in a tax preference that was originally temporary, suggesting the industry successfully lobbied to make a sunset clause permanent — a common pattern in tax-code creep where temporary provisions become permanent without legislative reauthorization.
• Permanent acceleration of depreciation deductions reduces federal revenue indefinitely, with no sunset or review mechanism. Future Congresses cannot easily reverse this without explicitly amending the code again.
• The 7-year recovery period is significantly faster than the 15-year standard for similar real property, creating a durable competitive advantage for motorsports venues over other entertainment or hospitality facilities.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill permanently reduces federal tax revenue from a narrow industry sector (motorsports entertainment complexes) with no offsetting public benefit, public service mandate, or broader economic justification. The foregone revenue must be made up through higher taxes elsewhere or reduced public services, shifting the burden to ordinary taxpayers.

Who stands to gain

• motorsports entertainment complex owners and operators
• racetrack operators (NASCAR, IndyCar, drag racing facilities, etc.)

Named in the bill

Internal Revenue Code of 1986, Section 168(i)(15), motorsports entertainment complexes, House Committee on Ways and Means

Where it stands

45 cosponsors: 31 Republicans, 14 Democrats.

• Mar 18, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Mar 18, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

3 lobbying clients named this bill on 5 disclosure filings across 3 quarters, Sep 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $830,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 2 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 61% of bills with at least one filing.

Claudia Tenney, the sponsor, reported $1,189,908 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• Specialty Equipment Market Association — $760,000 on 2 filings
• Accus — $40,000 on 2 filings
• National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing — $30,000 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 16, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.