Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB655 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3		EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4		[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5		-	Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6		-	Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7		-	amendment.
8	5		hb0655
9	6
10	7		HOUSE BILL 655
11	8		A2 5lr1197
12		-	CF ~~SB 798~~
	9	+	CF 5lr2718
13	10		By: Wicomico County Delegation
14	11		Introduced and read first time: January 24, 2025
15	12		Assigned to: Economic Matters
16		-	Committee Report: Favorable
17		-	House action: Adopted
18		-	Read second time: March 6, 2025
19	13
20		-	~~CHAPTER ______~~
	14	+	A BILL ENTITLED
21	15
22	16		AN ACT concerning 1
23	17
24	18		Wicomico County – Alcoholic Beverages – Temporary To–Go Event Permit and 2
25	19		Class C Per Diem Municipal To–Go Beer, Wine, and Liquor License 3
26	20
27	21		FOR the purpose of establishing a temporary to–go event permit in Wicomico County; 4
28	22		authorizing the Board of License Commissioners for Wicomico County to issue a 5
29	23		temporary to–go event permit to a holder of a Class B beer, wine, and liquor license 6
30	24		under certain circumstances; establishing a Class C per diem municipal to–go beer, 7
31	25		wine, and liquor license in the county; authorizing the Board to issue a Class C per 8
32	26		diem municipal to–go beer, wine, and liquor license to a municipality in the county; 9
33	27		requiring the Board to adopt certain regulations; and generally relating to alcoholic 10
34	28		beverages in Wicomico County. 11
35	29
36	30		BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 12
37	31		Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 13
38	32		Section 32–102 and 32–902(a), (b), (c), (g), and (h) 14
39	33		Annotated Code of Maryland 15
40	34		(2024 Replacement Volume) 16
41	35
42	36		BY adding to 17
43	37		Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 18
44	38		Section 32–902(i), 32–1104, and 32–1314 19
45	39		Annotated Code of Maryland 20
46	40		(2024 Replacement Volume) 21
	41	+
	42	+	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 22
	43	+	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 23
	44	+
	45	+	Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 24
	46	+
	47	+	32–102. 25
47	48		2 HOUSE BILL 655
48	49
49	50
50		-	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
51		-	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
	51	+	This title applies only in Wicomico County. 1
52	52
53		-	~~Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 3~~
	53	+	32–902. 2
54	54
55		-	~~32–102~~. 4
	55	+	(a) There is a Class B beer, wine, and liquor license. 3
56	56
57		-	~~This title applies only in Wicomico County.~~ 5
	57	+	(b) The Board may issue the license for use by: 4
58	58
59		-	~~32–902. 6~~
	59	+	(1) a hotel that has: 5
60	60
61		-	(a) ~~There is a Class B beer, wine, and liquor license. 7~~
	61	+	(i) at least 25 rooms; 6
62	62
63		-	(b) ~~The Board may issue the license for use by:~~ 8
	63	+	(ii) a lobby with registration, mail desk, and seating facilities; and 7
64	64
65		-	(1) a hotel that has: 9
	65	+	(iii) a dining room that serves full–course meals at least twice daily; 8
	66	+	or 9
66	67
67		-	(i) ~~at least 25 rooms;~~ 10
	68	+	(2) (i) a restaurant that: 10
68	69
69		-	(ii) a lobby with registration, mail desk, and seating facilities; and 11
	70	+	1. has a proper and adequate dining room with facilities for 11
	71	+	preparing and serving regular meals; 12
70	72
71		-	~~(iii)~~ a ~~dining room that serves full–course meals at least twice daily; 12~~
72		-	~~or 13~~
	73	+	2. not counting seating at a bar or counter, has table seating 13
	74	+	for at least 40 individuals; and 14
73	75
74		-	(2) (i) a restaurant that: 14
	76	+	3. has average daily receipts from the sale of food, not 15
	77	+	counting foodstuff contained in a mixed drink, that each month exceed the average daily 16
	78	+	receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages. 17
75	79
76		-	1~~. has a proper and adequate dining room with facilities for 15~~
77		-	~~preparing~~ and ~~serving regular meals;~~ 16
	80	+	(ii) The seating requirement in item (i)1 of this item does not apply 18
	81	+	to a Class B beer, wine, and liquor license holder who held the license on July 1, 1978. 19
78	82
79		-	2. not counting seating at a bar or counter, has table seating 17
80		-	for at least 40 individuals; and 18
	83	+	(c) The license authorizes the license holder to sell beer, wine, and liquor at a 20
	84	+	hotel or restaurant at retail at the place described in the license, for on–premises 21
	85	+	consumption. 22
81	86
82		-	3. has average daily receipts from the sale of food, not 19
83		-	counting foodstuff contained in a mixed drink, that each month exceed the average daily 20
84		-	receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages. 21
	87	+	(g) (1) The Board may issue a wine permit to a holder of the license for use by 23
	88	+	a restaurant that: 24
85	89
86		-	~~(ii) The seating requirement in item~~ (i)~~1 of this item does not apply 22~~
87		-	~~to a Class B beer, wine, and liquor license holder who held the license on July 1, 1978. 23~~
	90	+	(i) at least 5 days per week, offers for sale and describes in a printed 25
	91	+	menu: 26
88	92
89		-	(c) The license authorizes the license holder to sell beer, wine, and liquor at a 24
90		-	hotel or restaurant at retail at the place described in the license, for on–premises 25
91		-	consumption. 26
	93	+	1. breakfast and lunch; 27
92	94
93		-	(g) (1) The Board may issue a wine permit to a holder of the license for use by 27
94		-	a restaurant that: 28
95		-	HOUSE BILL 655 3
	95	+	2. breakfast and dinner; or 28
96	96
97		-
98		-	(i) at least 5 days per week, offers for sale and describes in a printed 1
99		-	menu: 2
100		-
101		-	1. breakfast and lunch; 3
102		-
103		-	2. breakfast and dinner; or 4
104		-
105		-	3. lunch and dinner; and 5
106		-
107		-	(ii) has an area used for the preparation and consumption of food 6
108		-	and beverages that is at least 80% of the area of the premises. 7
109		-
110		-	(2) Off–sale alcoholic beverages receipts shall be included in the calculation 8
111		-	of average daily receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages under § 32–901(c)(2)(i)3 of this 9
112		-	subtitle. 10
113		-
114		-	(3) The wine permit authorizes the license holder to sell, at retail, at the 11
115		-	place described in the license: 12
116		-
117		-	(i) beer, wine, and liquor for on–premises consumption; and 13
118		-
119		-	(ii) wine for off–premises consumption. 14
120		-
121		-	(4) The term of the wine permit is the same as the term of the Class B 15
122		-	license. 16
123		-
124		-	(5) If the premises is open for business as a restaurant, the hours and days 17
125		-	of sale for the wine permit are: 18
126		-
127		-	(i) 10 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday; and 19
128		-
129		-	(ii) 12:30 p.m. to midnight on Sunday. 20
130		-
131		-	(6) Wine sold under the wine permit may not have an alcohol content 21
132		-	greater than 15.5%. 22
133		-
134		-	(7) An applicant for the wine permit shall complete the form that the Board 23
135		-	provides. 24
136		-
137		-	(8) Advertising, posting of notice, and public hearing requirements for the 25
138		-	wine permit are the same as those for Class B licenses. 26
139		-
140		-	(9) The Board may adopt regulations to carry out this subsection, including 27
141		-	a limit on the number of wine permits to be granted. 28
142		-
143		-	(10) The annual permit fee is $1,500. 29
144		-	4 HOUSE BILL 655
145		-
146		-
147		-	(h) The holder of a Class B beer, wine, and liquor restaurant license that has been 1
148		-	issued a Class 9 limited distillery license may sell products manufactured under the 2
149		-	distillery license at the place described in the Class B license in a manner consistent with 3
150		-	the underlying Class B license for on– and off–premises consumption. 4
151		-
152		-	(I) (1) THE BOARD MAY ISSUE A TEMPORARY TO–GO EVENT PERMIT 5
153		-	UNDER § 32–1104 OF THIS TITLE TO A HOLDER OF A LIC ENSE UNDER THIS SECT ION 6
154		-	IF THE LICENSED ESTA BLISHMENT IS LOCATED WITHIN OR IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT 7
155		-	TO A SPECIAL EVEN T AREA IDENTIFIED IN A CLASS C PER DIEM MUNICIPAL TO–GO 8
156		-	BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR LICENSE ISSUED UNDER § 32–1314 OF THIS TITLE. 9
157		-
158		-	(2) THE TEMPORARY TO –GO EVENT PERMIT AUTH ORIZES THE 10
159		-	HOLDER TO SELL AT RE TAIL BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR IN APPROV ED TO–GO CUPS 11
160		-	THAT MAY BE CARRIED OUTSID E THE LICENSED ESTAB LISHMENT AND INTO TH E 12
161		-	DESIGNATED SPECIAL E VENT AREA. 13
162		-
163		-	32–1104. 14
164		-
165		-	(A) THERE IS A TEMPORARY TO–GO EVENT PERMIT. 15
166		-
167		-	(B) THE BOARD MAY ISSUE THE PERMIT TO A HOLDER O F A CLASS B BEER, 16
168		-	WINE, AND LIQUOR LICENSE IF THE LICENSED ESTA BLISHMENT IS LOCATED WITHIN 17
169		-	OR IMMEDIATELY ADJAC ENT TO A SPECIAL EVE NT AREA IDENTIFIED I N AND FOR 18
170		-	USE IN CONJUNCTION W ITH A CLASS C PER DIEM MUNICIPAL TO–GO BEER, WINE, 19
171		-	AND LIQUOR LICENSE . 20
172		-
173		-	(C) THE PERMIT AUTHORIZES THE HOLDER TO SELL A T RETAIL BEER, WINE, 21
174		-	AND LIQUOR IN APPROVED TO –GO CUPS THAT MAY BE CARRIED OUTSIDE THE 22
175		-	LICENSED ESTABLISHME NT OF THE CLASS B LICENSE AND INTO THE DESIGNATED 23
176		-	SPECIAL EVENT AREA . 24
177		-
178		-	(D) THE PERMIT HOLDER SHALL BE RESP ONSIBLE FOR COMPLYIN G WITH 25
179		-	ALL APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS . 26
180		-
181		-	(E) THE TERM OF THE PERMIT IS THE SAME A S THE TERM OF THE 27
182		-	ASSOCIATED CLASS C PER DIEM MUNICIPAL T O–GO BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR 28
183		-	LICENSE. 29
184		-
185		-	(F) THE BOARD SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS RE LATED TO THE ISSUANC E 30
186		-	OF AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PERMIT, INCLUDING REGULATION S RELATED TO: 31
187		-
188		-	(1) THE DESIGNATION OF A SPECIAL EVENT AREA ; 32
189		-
190		-	(2) THE HOURS OF SALE ; 33 HOUSE BILL 655 5
	97	+	3. lunch and dinner; and 29 HOUSE BILL 655 3
191	98
192	99
193	100
194		-	(3) AGE VERIFICATION REQ UIREMENTS; 1
	101	+	(ii) has an area used for the preparation and consumption of food 1
	102	+	and beverages that is at least 80% of the area of the premises. 2
195	103
196		-	(4) THE USE OF SPECIFIED TO–GO CUPS; AND 2
	104	+	(2) Off–sale alcoholic beverages receipts shall be included in the calculation 3
	105	+	of average daily receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages under § 32–901(c)(2)(i)3 of this 4
	106	+	subtitle. 5
197	107
198		-	(5) ~~ADVERTISING~~, ~~POSTING OF NOTICE~~ , ~~AND PUBLIC HEARING 3~~
199		-	~~REQUIREMENTS FOR~~ THE ~~TEMPORARY TO–GO EVENT PERMIT . 4~~
	108	+	(3) The wine permit authorizes the license holder to sell, at retail, at the 6
	109	+	place described in the license: 7
200	110
201		-	(G) ~~THE FEE~~ FOR ~~THE PERMI T IS $20 PER DAY. 5~~
	111	+	(i) beer, wine, and liquor for on–premises consumption; and 8
202	112
203		-	32–~~1314~~. 6
	113	+	(ii) wine for off–premises consumption. 9
204	114
205		-	(A) ~~THERE~~ IS A CLASS ~~C PER DIEM MUNICIPAL TO–GO BEER, WINE, AND 7~~
206		-	~~LIQUOR~~ LICENSE . 8
	115	+	(4) The term of the wine permit is the same as the term of the Class B 10
	116	+	license. 11
207	117
208		-	(B) THE LICENSE ENTITLES THE LICENSE HOLDER T O ALLOW BEER, WINE, 9
209		-	AND LIQUOR SOLD BY A HOLDER OF A TEMPORARY TO –GO EVENT PERMIT UNDER § 10
210		-	32–1104 OF THIS TITLE TO ENTER A DESIGNATE D SPECIAL EVENT AREA DESCRIBED 11
211		-	IN THE LICENSE FOR A PERIOD NOT EXC EEDING 7 CONSECUTIVE DAYS . 12
	118	+	(5) If the premises is open for business as a restaurant, the hours and days 12
	119	+	of sale for the wine permit are: 13
212	120
213		-	(C) THE BOARD MAY ISSUE THE LICENS E TO A MUNICIPALITY IN THE 13
214		-	COUNTY. 14
	121	+	(i) 10 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday; and 14
215	122
216		-	(D) THE BOARD SHALL ADOPT REG ULATIONS RELATED TO THE ISSUANCE 15
217		-	OF AND REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE UNDER THIS S ECTION, INCLUDING 16
218		-	REGULATIONS RELATED TO: 17
	123	+	(ii) 12:30 p.m. to midnight on Sunday. 15
219	124
220		-	(1) THE DESIGNATION OF A SPECIAL EVENT AREA ; 18
	125	+	(6) Wine sold under the wine permit may not have an alcohol content 16
	126	+	greater than 15.5%. 17
221	127
222		-	(2) THE HOURS OF SALE ; 19
	128	+	(7) An applicant for the wine permit shall complete the form that the Board 18
	129	+	provides. 19
223	130
224		-	(3) AGE VERIFICATION REQ UIREMENTS; 20
	131	+	(8) Advertising, posting of notice, and public hearing requirements for the 20
	132	+	wine permit are the same as those for Class B licenses. 21
225	133
226		-	(4) THE USE OF SPECIFIED TO–GO CUPS; 21
	134	+	(9) The Board may adopt regulations to carry out this subsection, including 22
	135	+	a limit on the number of wine permits to be granted. 23
227	136
228		-	(5) ADVERTISING, POSTING OF NOTICE , AND PUBLIC HEARING 22
229		-	REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LICENSE AND ANY ASSO CIATED TEMPORARY TO –GO EVENT 23
230		-	PERMIT; AND 24
	137	+	(10) The annual permit fee is $1,500. 24
231	138
232		-	(6) PUBLIC SAFETY AND EV ENT SECURITY REQUIREMENTS . 25
	139	+	(h) The holder of a Class B beer, wine, and liquor restaurant license that has been 25
	140	+	issued a Class 9 limited distillery license may sell products manufactured under the 26
	141	+	distillery license at the place described in the Class B license in a manner consistent with 27
	142	+	the underlying Class B license for on– and off–premises consumption. 28
233	143
234		-	(E) THE FEE FOR THE LICENSE IS $45 PER DAY. 26
235		-	6 HOUSE BILL 655
	144	+	(I) (1) THE BOARD MAY ISSUE A TEMPORARY TO–GO EVENT PERMIT 29
	145	+	UNDER § 32–1104 OF THIS TITLE TO A HOLDER OF A LIC ENSE UNDER THIS SECT ION 30
	146	+	IF THE LICENSED ESTA BLISHMENT IS LOCATED WITHIN OR IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT 31 4 HOUSE BILL 655
236	147
237	148
238		-	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 1
239		-	1, 2025. 2
	149	+	TO A SPECIAL EVEN T AREA IDENTIFIED IN A CLASS C PER DIEM MUNICIPAL TO–GO 1
	150	+	BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR LICENSE ISSUED UNDER § 32–1314 OF THIS TITLE. 2
	151	+
	152	+	(2) THE TEMPORARY TO –GO EVENT PERMIT AUTH ORIZES THE 3
	153	+	HOLDER TO SELL AT RE TAIL BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR IN APPROV ED TO–GO CUPS 4
	154	+	THAT MAY BE CARRIED OUTSID E THE LICENSED ESTAB LISHMENT AND INTO TH E 5
	155	+	DESIGNATED SPECIAL E VENT AREA. 6
	156	+
	157	+	32–1104. 7
	158	+
	159	+	(A) THERE IS A TEMPORARY TO–GO EVENT PERMIT. 8
	160	+
	161	+	(B) THE BOARD MAY ISSUE THE PERMIT TO A HOLDER O F A CLASS B BEER, 9
	162	+	WINE, AND LIQUOR LICENSE IF THE LICENSED ESTA BLISHMENT IS LOCATED WITHIN 10
	163	+	OR IMMEDIATELY ADJAC ENT TO A SPECIAL EVE NT AREA IDENTIFIED I N AND FOR 11
	164	+	USE IN CONJUNCTION W ITH A CLASS C PER DIEM MUNICIPAL TO–GO BEER, WINE, 12
	165	+	AND LIQUOR LICENSE . 13
	166	+
	167	+	(C) THE PERMIT AUTHORIZES THE HOL DER TO SELL AT RETAI L BEER, WINE, 14
	168	+	AND LIQUOR IN APPROV ED TO–GO CUPS THAT MAY BE CARRIED OUTSIDE THE 15
	169	+	LICENSED ESTABLISHME NT OF THE CLASS B LICENSE AND INTO THE DESIGNATED 16
	170	+	SPECIAL EVENT AREA . 17
	171	+
	172	+	(D) THE PERMIT HOLDER SHALL BE RESP ONSIBLE FOR COMPLYING WITH 18
	173	+	ALL APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS . 19
	174	+
	175	+	(E) THE TERM OF THE PERMIT IS THE SAME A S THE TERM OF THE 20
	176	+	ASSOCIATED CLASS C PER DIEM MUNICIPAL T O–GO BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR 21
	177	+	LICENSE. 22
	178	+
	179	+	(F) THE BOARD SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS RE LATED TO THE ISSUANC E 23
	180	+	OF AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PERMIT, INCLUDING REGULATION S RELATED TO: 24
	181	+
	182	+	(1) THE DESIGNATION OF A SPECIAL EVENT AREA ; 25
	183	+
	184	+	(2) THE HOURS OF SALE ; 26
	185	+
	186	+	(3) AGE VERIFICATION REQ UIREMENTS; 27
	187	+
	188	+	(4) THE USE OF SPECIFIED TO–GO CUPS; AND 28
	189	+
	190	+	(5) ADVERTISING, POSTING OF NOTICE , AND PUBLIC HEARING 29
	191	+	REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TEMPORARY TO –GO EVENT PERMIT . 30 HOUSE BILL 655 5
240	192
241	193
242	194
243		-	Approved:
244		-	________________________________________________________________________________
245		-	Governor.
246		-	________________________________________________________________________________
247		-	Speaker of the House of Delegates.
248		-	________________________________________________________________________________
249		-	President of the Senate.
	195	+	(G) THE FEE FOR THE PERMI T IS $20 PER DAY. 1
	196	+
	197	+	32–1314. 2
	198	+
	199	+	(A) THERE IS A CLASS C PER DIEM MUNICIPAL TO–GO BEER, WINE, AND 3
	200	+	LIQUOR LICENSE . 4
	201	+
	202	+	(B) THE LICENSE ENTITLES THE LICENSE HOLDER T O ALLOW BEER, WINE, 5
	203	+	AND LIQUOR SOLD BY A HOLDER OF A TEMPORARY TO –GO EVENT PERMIT UNDER § 6
	204	+	32–1104 OF THIS TITLE TO ENTER A DESIGNATE D SPECIAL EVENT AREA DESCRIBED 7
	205	+	IN THE LICENSE FOR A PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING 7 CONSECUTIVE DAYS . 8
	206	+
	207	+	(C) THE BOARD MAY ISSUE THE LICENS E TO A MUNICIPALITY IN THE 9
	208	+	COUNTY. 10
	209	+
	210	+	(D) THE BOARD SHALL ADOPT REG ULATIONS RELATED TO THE ISSUANCE 11
	211	+	OF AND REQUIREMENTS FOR A LICENSE UNDER THIS S ECTION, INCLUDING 12
	212	+	REGULATIONS RELATED TO: 13
	213	+
	214	+	(1) THE DESIGNATION OF A SPECIAL EVENT AREA ; 14
	215	+
	216	+	(2) THE HOURS OF SALE ; 15
	217	+
	218	+	(3) AGE VERIFICATION REQ UIREMENTS; 16
	219	+
	220	+	(4) THE USE OF SPECIFIED TO–GO CUPS; 17
	221	+
	222	+	(5) ADVERTISING, POSTING OF NOTICE , AND PUBLIC HEARING 18
	223	+	REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LICENSE AND ANY ASSO CIATED TEMPORARY TO –GO EVENT 19
	224	+	PERMIT; AND 20
	225	+
	226	+	(6) PUBLIC SAFETY AND EV ENT SECURITY REQUIRE MENTS. 21
	227	+
	228	+	(E) THE FEE FOR THE LICENSE IS $45 PER DAY. 22
	229	+
	230	+	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 23
	231	+	1, 2025. 24