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.
*sb0802*
SENATE BILL 802
A2 5lr2673
CF HB 564
By: Dorchester County Senators
Introduced and read first time: January 28, 2025
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 16, 2025
CHAPTER ______
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; authorizing the Board to issue the license to an 9
establishment that is within a certain distance of a place of worship or school with 10
the written consent of the place of worship or school; and generally relating to 11
alcoholic beverages licenses in Dorchester County. 12
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 13
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 14
Section 19–102 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2024 Replacement Volume) 17
BY adding to 18
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 19
Section 19–1001 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21
(2024 Replacement Volume) 22
2 SENATE BILL 802
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 1
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 2
Section 19–1601 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2024 Replacement Volume) 5
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 7
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 8
19–102. 9
This title applies only in Dorchester County. 10
19–1001. 11
(A) THERE IS A VENUE BEER , WINE, AND LIQUOR LICENSE . 12
(B) THE BOARD MAY ISSUE THE L ICENSE TO A NONPROFI T OR FOR–PROFIT 13
RETAIL BUSINESS THAT HOSTS WEDDINGS, BANQUETS, PARTIES, MEETINGS, AND 14
SIMILAR EVENTS , WHETHER PRIVATE OR O PEN TO THE PUBLIC , AT A VENUE THAT : 15
(1) IS AT LEAST 2,000 SQUARE FEET IN SIZE ; 16
(2) CAN ACCOMMODATE AT L EAST 100 INDIVIDUALS FOR A SI NGLE 17
EVENT, WHETHER INSIDE THE V ENUE OR OUTSIDE ON THE VE NUE’S PREMISES; AND 18
(3) HAS ADEQUATE BATHROO M FACILITIES. 19
(C) (1) THE LICENSE AUTHORIZE S THE LICENSE HOLDER TO SELL OR 20
SERVE BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR AT RETAIL , BY THE DRINK OR BY T HE BOTTLE, FOR 21
ON–PREMISES CONSUMPTION : 22
(I) DURING AN EVENT HOST ED BY THE LICENSE HO LDER AT 23
THE LICENSE HOLDER ’S VENUE; AND 24
(II) ONLY IF FOOD IS ALSO PROVIDED DURING THE EVENT. 25
(2) A LICENSE HOLDER MAY N OT ALLOW AN INDIVIDU AL TO CARRY 26
BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR ONTO OR O FF THE LICENSED PREM ISES. 27
(D) THE LICENSE MAY NOT B E TRANSFERRED TO ANO THER LOCATION . 28
SENATE BILL 802 3
(E) THE LICENSE HOLDER MA Y SELL BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR DURING TH E 1
HOURS AND DAYS AS SE T OUT FOR A CLASS B BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR LICENSE 2
UNDER § 19–2005 OF THIS TITLE. 3
(F) THE ANNUAL FEE FOR THE LICENSE IS $1,500. 4
(G) THE BOARD MAY ADOPT REGUL ATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS SECTION. 5
19–1601. 6
(a) (1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the Board may not 7
issue a new license for an establishment that is within 300 feet in a direct line of a place of 8
worship or a public or nonpublic kindergarten, elementary, or secondary school. 9
(2) The distance from the establishment to the place of worship or the 10
public or nonpublic kindergarten, elementary, or secondary school is to be measured from 11
the establishment in a direct line to the nearest point of the main building of the place of 12
worship or school. 13
(b) The prohibition against issuing a license in subsection (a) of this section does 14
not apply to the issuance of: 15
(1) a license for a premises that was licensed on October 1, 1996; 16
(2) a Class B (on–sale) beer, wine, and liquor license for a premises in 17
Cambridge, Secretary, or Hurlock; [or] 18
(3) a temporary license; OR 19
(4) A VENUE BEER , WINE, AND LIQUOR LICENSE I F THE BOARD 20
RECEIVES WRITTEN CON SENT TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE LICENSE FROM EACH PLACE 21
OF WORSHIP OR SCHOOL LOCATED WITHIN 300 FEET IN A DIRECT LIN E OF THE 22
ESTABLISHMENT FOR WH ICH THE LICENSE IS S OUGHT. 23
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall t ake effect July 24
1, 2025. 25