EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0567*
HOUSE BILL 567
A2 5lr2662
CF 5lr2666
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 – Arts Beer and Wine License 2
FOR the purpose of establishing in Dorchester County an arts beer and wine license that 3
authorizes the holder to sell or serve beer and wine for on–premises consumption; 4
authorizing the Board of License Commissioners for Dorchester County to issue the 5
license to a nonprofit or for–profit retail business that engages in the display and 6
sale of original artwork in a certain arts and entertainment district; and generally 7
relating to alcoholic beverages in Dorchester County. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 9
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 10
Section 19–102 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2024 Replacement Volume) 13
BY adding to 14
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 15
Section 19–1001 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2024 Replacement Volume) 18
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 21
19–102. 22
This title applies only in Dorchester County. 23
2 HOUSE BILL 567
19–1001. 1
(A) THERE IS AN ARTS BEER AND WINE LICENSE . 2
(B) (1) THE BOARD MAY ISSUE THE LICENSE TO A NONPROF IT OR 3
FOR–PROFIT RETAIL BUSINESS , INCLUDING AN ART CENTER , AN ART GALLERY , A 4
MUSEUM, OR A SIMILAR BUSINESS THAT IS PRIMARILY DE VOTED TO ART THAT 5
EXPRESSES MATTERS OF SERIOUS LITERARY , ARTISTIC, SCIENTIFIC, OR POLITICAL 6
VALUE, THAT: 7
(I) ENGAGES IN THE DISPL AY AND SALE OF ORIGI NAL 8
ARTWORK; AND 9
(II) IS LOCATED IN AN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT 10
APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. 11
(2) THE BOARD MAY NOT ISSUE THE LICENSE TO A BUSINES S THAT 12
DISPLAYS AND SELLS C OMMERCIALLY PREPARED OR MASS–PRODUCED ARTISTIC 13
PRODUCTS. 14
(3) THE LICENSE HOLDER MAY SELL OR SERVE BEER A ND WINE: 15
(I) AT RETAIL FOR ON–PREMISES CONSUMPTION WHEN 16
SNACKS ARE SERVED ; AND 17
(II) ON MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, DURING NORMAL 18
BUSINESS HOURS BUT N OT EARLIER THAN 10 A.M. AND NOT LATER THAN 10 P.M. 19
(4) THE LICENSE MAY NOT B E TRANSFERRED FROM THE LOCATION 20
FOR WHICH THE LICENS E WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED TO ANOTHER LOCATION. 21
(C) THE ANNUAL LICENSE FEE IS $250. 22
(D) 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