EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1238*
HOUSE BILL 1238
A2 5lr2368
By: Delegates Otto, Beauchamp, and Hartman
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2025
Assigned to: Economic Matters
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Somerset County – Alcoholic Beverages – Liquor Tasting License 2
FOR the purpose of establishing a liquor tasting license in Somerset County; authorizing 3
the Board of License Commissioners for Somerset County to issue the license to the 4
holder of a Class A beer, wine, and liquor license; and generally relating to alcoholic 5
beverages in Somerset County. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 8
Section 29–102 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2024 Replacement Volume) 11
BY adding to 12
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 13
Section 29–1306 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2024 Replacement Volume) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 19
29–102. 20
This title applies only in Somerset County. 21
29–1306. 22
2 HOUSE BILL 1238
(A) THERE IS A LIQUOR TAS TING LICENSE. 1
(B) THE BOARD MAY ISSUE THE LICENSE TO A HOLDER OF A CLASS A BEER, 2
WINE, AND LIQUOR LICENSE . 3
(C) THE LICENSE AUTHORIZES THE HOLDE R TO ALLOW THE CONSU MPTION 4
OF LIQUOR FOR TASTIN G IF: 5
(1) THE LICENSE HOLDER IS AUTHORIZED TO SELL THE LIQUOR ; AND 6
(2) THE CONSUMER IS NOT CHARGED FOR THE LIQU OR. 7
(D) AN INDIVIDUAL MAY CONSUME LIQUOR AT A LIQUOR TASTING IN A 8
QUANTITY OF NOT MORE THAN: 9
(1) ONE–HALF OUNCE FROM EACH OFFERING OF LIQUOR ; AND 10
(2) FIVE OFFERINGS IN 1 DAY. 11
(E) IN ADDITION TO THE CO ST OF THE CLASS A BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR 12
LICENSE, THE LIQUOR TASTING LICENSE FEES ARE: 13
(1) FOR A LICENSE THAT IS EFFECTIVE FO R ONLY 1 DAY IN A 14
LICENSING PERIOD , $20; 15
(2) FOR A LICENSE THAT IS EFFECTIVE FO R ANY 26 DAYS IN A 16
LICENSING PERIOD , $200; 17
(3) FOR A LICENSE THAT IS EFFECTIVE FO R ANY 52 DAYS IN A 18
LICENSING PE RIOD, $300; AND 19
(4) FOR A LICENSE THAT IS EFFECTIVE FO R ANY 104 DAYS IN A 20
LICENSING PERIOD , $400. 21
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 22
1, 2025. 23