EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0564*
HOUSE BILL 564
A2 5lr2671
CF 5lr2673
By: Dorchester County Delegation
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2025
Assigned to: Economic Matters
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Dorchester County – Alcoholic Beverages – Venue Beer, Wine, and Liquor 2
License 3
FOR the purpose of establishing in Dorchester County a venue beer, wine, and liquor 4
license that authorizes the holder to sell or serve beer, wine, and liquor for 5
on–premises consumption during an event where food is served; authorizing the 6
Board of License Commissioners for Dorchester County to issue the license to a 7
nonprofit or for–profit retail business that hosts private or public events at a venue 8
that meets certain criteria; and generally relating to alcoholic beverages licenses in 9
Dorchester County. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 11
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 12
Section 19–102 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2024 Replacement Volume) 15
BY adding to 16
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 17
Section 19–1001 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2024 Replacement Volume) 20
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 21
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 22
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 23
19–102. 24
This title applies only in Dorchester County. 25 2 HOUSE BILL 564
19–1001. 1
(A) THERE IS A VENUE BEER , WINE, AND LIQUOR LICENSE . 2
(B) THE BOARD MAY ISSUE THE L ICENSE TO A NONPROFI T OR FOR–PROFIT 3
RETAIL BUSINESS THAT HOSTS WEDDINGS , BANQUETS, PARTIES, MEETINGS, AND 4
SIMILAR EVENTS , WHETHER PRIVATE OR O PEN TO THE PUBLIC , AT A VENUE THAT: 5
(1) IS AT LEAST 2,000 SQUARE FEET IN SIZE ; 6
(2) CAN ACCOMMODA TE AT LEAST 100 INDIVIDUALS FOR A SI NGLE 7
EVENT, WHETHER INSIDE THE VENUE OR OUTSIDE ON THE VENUE’S PREMISES; AND 8
(3) HAS ADEQUATE BATHROO M FACILITIES. 9
(C) (1) THE LICENSE AUTHORIZE S THE LICENSE HOLDER TO SELL OR 10
SERVE BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR AT RETAIL , BY THE DRINK OR BY T HE BOTTLE, FOR 11
ON–PREMISES CONSUMPTION : 12
(I) DURING AN EVENT HOSTED BY THE LICENS E HOLDER AT 13
THE LICENSE HOLDER ’S VENUE; AND 14
(II) ONLY IF FOOD IS ALSO PROVIDED DURING THE EVENT. 15
(2) A LICENSE HOLDER MAY N OT ALLOW AN INDIVIDUAL TO CARRY 16
BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR ONTO OR O FF THE LICENSED PREM ISES. 17
(D) THE LICENSE MAY NOT B E TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER LOCATION. 18
(E) THE LICENSE HOLDER MA Y SELL BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR DURING TH E 19
HOURS AND DAYS AS SE T OUT FOR A CLASS B BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR LICENSE 20
UNDER § 19–2005 OF THIS TITLE. 21
(F) THE ANNUAL FEE FOR TH E LICENSE IS $1,500. 22
(G) THE BOARD MAY ADOPT REGUL ATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS SECTION. 23
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 24
1, 2025. 25