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.
*sb0503*
SENATE BILL 503
A2 5lr1925
SB 855/24 – FIN & EEE CF HB 481
By: Washington County Senators
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2025
Assigned to: Finance and Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 16, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Washington County – Board of License Commissioners – Membership 2
FOR the purpose of requiring that certain numbers of members of the Board of License 3
Commissioners for Washington County belong to certain political parties; and 4
generally relating to the membership of the Board of License Commissioners for 5
Washington County. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 8
Section 31–102 and 31–201 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2024 Replacement Volume) 11
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 13
Section 31–202 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
31–102. 20 2 SENATE BILL 503
This title applies only in Washington County. 1
31–201. 2
There is a Board of License Commissioners for Washington County. 3
31–202. 4
(a) (1) The Governor shall appoint three members to the Board. 5
(2) The appointments shall be made: 6
(i) if the Senate is in session, with the advice and consent of the 7
Senate; or 8
(ii) if the Senate is not in session, by the Governor alone. 9
(b) (1) Each member of the Board shall be: 10
(i) a resident and voter of the county; and 11
(ii) an individual of high character and integrity and of recognized 12
business capacity. 13
[(2) Not more than two members of the Board may belong to the same 14
political party.] 15
(2) (I) TWO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL BELONG TO THE 16
POLITICAL PARTY THAT RECEIVED THE HIGHEST AGGREGATED NUMBER OF VOTES 17
IN THE PRECEDING ELE CTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS . 18
(II) ONE MEMBER OF THE BOARD SHALL BELONG TO THE 19
POLITICAL PARTY THAT RECEIVED THE SECOND HIGHEST AGGREGATED N UMBER OF 20
VOTES IN THE PRECEDI NG ELECTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS . 21
(c) A member of the Board may not have a pecuniary or other interest in any 22
phase of the manufacture, sale, or distribution of alcoholic beverages. 23
(d) (1) The term of a member is 6 years. 24
(2) The terms of the members are staggered as required by the terms 25
provided for members of the Board on July 1, 2016. 26
SENATE BILL 503 3
(e) (1) The Governor shall appoint an eligible individual to fill a vacancy 1
during the remainder of the term of office of the individual originally appointed in 2
accordance with subsection (a) of this section. 3
(2) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the 4
remainder of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies. 5
(f) (1) The Governor may remove a member for misconduct in office, 6
incompetence, or willful neglect of duty. 7
(2) The Governor shall give a member who is charged a copy of the charges 8
against the member and, with at least 10 days’ notice, an opportunity to be heard publicly 9
in person or by counsel. 10
(3) If a member is removed, the Governor shall file with the Office of the 11
Secretary of State a statement of charges against the member and the Governor’s findings 12
on the charges. 13
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 14
1, 2025. 15
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.