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Committee clears alcohol-license changes; amendment increases guest-ranch building allowance
Summary
House Bill 882 was amended to refine where hotel-related license language applies and to allow guest ranches to serve alcohol in up to three permanent buildings; the Business and Labor Committee passed the bill as amended and forwarded it to the House floor.
The Montana House Business and Labor Committee voted to pass House Bill 882 with an amendment that narrows where hotel-related license language applies and expands an allowance for guest ranches to serve alcohol in permanent buildings.
Amendment 882.1.2 modifies subsection wording so that a licensee’s premises that include a hotel apply only when the hotel is not located within the boundaries of an incorporated city or town quota area. The amendment also restores an intended provision allowing alcohol to be served at a guest ranch in outdoor portions of licensed premises and in up to three permanent buildings during hours authorized under section 16-3-3304, replacing an earlier drafting omission that had limited service to fewer buildings.
Jameson, a committee staffer, summarized the changes on the floor and said the guest-ranch provision — allowing service in up to three permanent buildings — “was something that was supposed to be in the original bill and I guess we missed it.” The committee adopted the amendment by voice vote and then approved HB 882 as amended, moving the bill to the House floor.
Committee members were advised the amendment was a negotiated compromise among interested trade groups; Jameson said the amendment reflected consensus between the Tavern Association and the Gaming Industry Association. No roll-call vote was recorded in the executive-action portion of the transcript; the chair announced the bill as amended had passed the committee and would head to the House floor.
