The powers behind SEMA’s legislative effort, Right to Race, have been busy. And with that effort has come some notable successes, most recently in Oklahoma where the national push to protect racetracks from “Not In My Backyard”-generated nuisance lawsuits has come to fruition.
Recently, the Oklahoma Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to advance the Racing Facility and Racetrack Qualified Defense Act (SB1195), “a measure establishing nuisance protections for long‑standing racing facilities operating in compliance with federal, state and local laws.” The bill was authored locally by Senator Kendal Sacchieri and Representative Eric Roberts, and will now move to the full State Senate for consideration.
“Oklahoma’s race tracks have supported families like mine for generations,” said Gerald Brand of Brand Racing. “I’m grateful to Sen. Sacchieri for standing up for our racing community and championing a bill that helps ensure these facilities can continue operating responsibly for years to come.”
Other recent success include legislation in North Carolina for similar issues:
North Carolina Protects Racetracks with New “Right to Race” Law
From SEMA: “This strong bipartisan committee vote reflects growing statewide recognition of the economic and cultural importance of Oklahoma’s motorsports venues. SB 1195 protects long-standing facilities from being litigated out of existence simply because the neighborhood changed around them…SEMA and PRI continue to push for state-level “Right to Race” protections that help ensure properly established racing facilities can continue operating responsibly while communities retain the local traditions, weekend commerce and small-business activity that racing venues often anchor.”
To learn more about the effort, check out a conversation RacingJunk had with Karen Bailey-Chapman, SVP of Public and Government Affairs for SEMA/PRI, at the Performance Racing Industry Show in Indianapolis, IN in 2025.
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To learn more about the Right to Race legislative efforts nationwide, go here: https://www.sema.org/right-to-race
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