EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0284*
SENATE BILL 284
A2 5lr2153
By: Senator McCray
Introduced and read first time: January 10, 2025
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 16, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Baltimore City – Alcoholic Beverages – Hours of Operation Violations – Civil 2
Penalties 3
FOR the purpose of establishing civil penalties for the offense by a holder of an alcoholic 4
beverages license in Baltimore City of operating the licensed premises outside 5
specified hours of operation without obtaining a certain exemption; and generally 6
relating to alcoholic beverages in Baltimore City. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 8
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 9
Section 12–102 and 12–2007 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2024 Replacement Volume) 12
BY adding to 13
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 14
Section 12–2802(f) 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2024 Replacement Volume) 17
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 20
2 SENATE BILL 284
12–102. 1
This title applies only in Baltimore City. 2
12–2007. 3
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a licensed premises shall 4
end all operations, including the serving of alcoholic beverages and food and providing 5
entertainment, at the closing hour for that class of licensed premises specified in this title. 6
(b) (1) The Board may grant an exemption for remaining open after hours to: 7
(i) a holder of a Class B restaurant license, only for serving food to 8
patrons seated for dining; 9
(ii) a pharmacy that fills prescriptions; or 10
(iii) a holder of a Class D beer, wine, and liquor license that operates 11
a restaurant, if: 12
1. it is used only for serving food to patrons seated in a dining 13
room that is not adjacent to a bar; and 14
2. the restaurant is located in the 46th legislative district in 15
the Legislative Districting Plan of 2022. 16
(2) A pharmacy that receives an exemption under paragraph (1) of this 17
subsection may also sell products other than alcohol after normal closing hours. 18
(3) A hotel that holds a Class B license and that serves food to seated 19
customers or for private functions or guest rooms may continue to provide food service. 20
(4) The Board may waive the requirement in paragraph (1)(iii)1 of this 21
subsection that a dining room not be adjacent to a bar. 22
12–2802. 23
(F) FOR THE OFFENSE BY A HOLDER OF AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES 24
LICENSE OF OPERATING THE LICENSED PREMISE S OUTSIDE THE HOURS OF 25
OPERATION SPECIFIED IN THIS TI TLE WITHOUT FIRST OBTAIN ING AN EXEMPTION 26
UNDER § 12–2007 OF THIS TITLE, THE BOARD SHALL: 27
(1) FOR A FIRST OFFENSE, IMPOSE A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN $1,000 28
OR SUSPEND THE LICEN SE OR BOTH; AND 29
SENATE BILL 284 3
(2) FOR A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE, IMPOSE A FINE OF NOT 1
LESS THAN $2,000 AND NOT MORE THAN $20,000 OR SUSPEND THE LICEN SE OR 2
BOTH. 3
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER E NACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 4
1, 2025. 5
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.