House Bill 828, considered at the Liquor Control committee meeting on July 9, 2025, would amend the Pennsylvania liquor code to allow the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to hold one annual "excess" auction to sell licenses that did not receive bids in prior auctions.

The bill matters because it would create a recurring mechanism for reallocating unused liquor licenses, set fee and transfer limits, and change payment timing for winning bidders, potentially affecting restaurant owners and license holders across Pennsylvania.

Lynn, committee staff, summarized the bill: "House bill 8 28 amends a liquor code to allow for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to hold an annual excess auction to auction off licenses that did not receive bids in a previous auction at the discretion of the board. The board is permitted to hold 1 excess auction per year." Lynn also explained transfer limits and other provisions.

As introduced, the bill said that licenses awarded in an excess auction that are transferred to a different county may not be transferred from that municipality for a period of five years; awards would go to the highest bidder in any county regardless of the license's original location, and "no more than 1 license shall be awarded to any 1 county in an excess auction," Lynn said. The bill also allows a winning bidder to transfer a license without regard to quota restrictions "upon approval of the receiving municipality." Each transfer is accompanied by a $25,000 application fee, the bill states, and originally extended the payment period to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board from two weeks to six months.

Committee members considered an amendment, A01488, that Lynn described as making several changes: "The payment for winning bids is to be paid within 30 days of being awarded license instead of 6 months. The board shall hold at least 1 excess auction per calendar year." The amendment also retained a $25,000 minimum bid, limited transfers so "no more than 2 licenses shall be transferred into the same county as a result of an excess auction process," and set application fees by county class: counties of the fifth through eighth class would remain $25,000 while first through fourth class counties would be $50,000.

Committee members agreed to the amendment without recorded negative votes. After further questions were called and none were raised, Lynn announced, "8 28 is reported from committee." That action indicates the committee voted to advance the bill to the next step in the legislative process rather than enacting policy immediately.

The record shows discussion and an adopted amendment; the committee did not adopt an implementation plan or identify which auctions would be held first. Next steps for the bill are committee report and scheduling for further legislative consideration.