EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0999*
SENATE BILL 999
A2 5lr3540
CF HB 987
By: Senator M. Washington
Introduced and read first time: February 1, 2025
Assigned to: Rules
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Baltimore County – Alcoholic Beverages – Distance From Place of Worship 2
Restriction – Exception 3
FOR the purpose of authorizing the Board of License Commissioners for Baltimore County 4
to issue a beer, wine, and liquor license to an establishment that has a certain zoning 5
classification and is within a certain distance of a place of worship under certain 6
circumstances; and generally relating to alcoholic beverages licenses in Baltimore 7
County. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 9
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 10
Section 13–102 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2024 Replacement Volume) 13
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 15
Section 13–1601 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
13–102. 22
This title applies only in Baltimore County. 23
13–1601. 24 2 SENATE BILL 999
(a) (1) Except as provided in [subsection] SUBSECTIONS (b) AND (C) of this 1
section, the Board may not issue a license for an establishment that is within 300 feet of a 2
place of worship or school. 3
(2) The distance from the establishment to the place of worship or school is 4
to be measured from the nearest point of the building of the establishment to the nearest 5
point of the building of the place of worship or school. 6
(b) The prohibition against issuing a license in subsection (a) of this section does 7
not apply to: 8
(1) the renewal or transfer of a license of an establishment if, after issuance 9
of the license, a place of worship or school was built within 300 feet of the establishment; 10
(2) the issuance of a temporary license; 11
(3) a transfer that moves the licensed premises within the same building; 12
(4) a transfer of ownership of the licensed premises; 13
(5) the renewal of a Class B beer, wine, and liquor (on–sale) license or a 14
7–day Class BDR (deluxe restaurant) (on–sale) beer, wine, and liquor license, if the licensed 15
premises has a seating capacity of more than 50 individuals and is within a town center; or 16
(6) the transfer, conversion, and issuance of a license under § 13–1710 of 17
this title. 18
(C) THE PROHIBITION AGAIN ST ISSUING A LICENSE IN SUBSECTION (A) OF 19
THIS SECTION DOES NO T APPLY TO THE ISSUA NCE OF A BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR 20
LICENSE FOR ON – OR OFF–PREMISES CONSUMPTION FOR AN ESTABLISHMENT THAT 21
IS WITHIN 300 FEET OF A PLACE OF W ORSHIP IF: 22
(1) THE ESTABLISHMENT IS LOCATED IN THE TOWSON AREA , AS 23
DETERMINED BY THE BOARD; 24
(2) THE ESTABLISHMENT IS LOCATED IN AN OFFICE BUILDING THAT 25
IS AT LEAST 100,000 SQUARE FEET IN SIZE ; 26
(3) THE ESTABLISHMENT HA S A ZONING CLASSIFIC ATION OF 27
BM–D.T. BY THE COUNTY GOVERN MENT; 28
(4) THE PLACE OF WORSHIP CONSENTS IN WRITING TO THE ISSUANCE 29
OF THE LICENSE; AND 30
SENATE BILL 999 3
(5) (I) THE LICENSE IS TO AP PLY TO A RESTAURANT , A MARKET, OR 1
ANOTHER SIMILAR ESTA BLISHMENT; AND 2
(II) THE LICENSE IS NOT A CLASS A LICENSE. 3
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 4
1, 2025. 5