Senate committee reviews making 'to‑go' alcohol sales permanent after safety review

The Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee on April 30 heard testimony supporting a bill, H.339, that would remove the temporary sunset on sales of alcoholic beverages for off‑premise consumption.

Lawmakers said they would wait for a clarification from law enforcement about how officers record the "place of last drink" in DUI and fatality investigations before taking a vote on the measure.

Committee members were presented with the legislative history and an agency assessment that found little public‑safety impact from the temporary to‑go program enacted during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Tucker Anderson, legislative counsel, told the committee the provision began under the 2021 act and has been extended multiple times: "So this would make it to the 70, you say, section 2 30 will exist in perpetuity or at least until the general assembly decides to repeal this in the future." He framed H.339 as an effort to remove the statute's sunset so the authorization would remain until the…