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Delegation backs extending transfer window for alcoholic beverage licenses; industry seeks narrow amendment
Summary
House Bill 746 would extend by three years a law allowing transfer of on-premise alcoholic beverage licenses from oversaturated to undersaturated districts; licensees and the Licensed Beverage Association say five transfers from the prior three-year period have been used and a small amendment is being negotiated.
Delegate Dahlia Guyton asked the Baltimore County House Delegation on Feb. 7 to support House Bill 746, a one-paragraph measure to extend for three years a local law that lets on-premise alcoholic beverage licenses be transferred from oversaturated districts to undersaturated ones.
"This bill extends the three-year sunset of that legislation," Guyton said, describing it as "business-friendly" and noting all transfers require approval from the Baltimore County Liquor Board.
Representatives of local businesses and the licensed beverage industry voiced support while requesting a narrowly tailored amendment. Marta Harding of Diageo's Open Gate Brewery taproom and Jack Milani of the Baltimore County Licensed Beverage Association said they are working with the sponsor and other stakeholders on a potential amendment and urged a few more days to finalize language. Milani reported four of five available transfers under the prior authorization have been completed and the fifth was in process.
Delegates asked about which districts are oversaturated; Milani and Delegate Phillips discussed historical patterns and named Districts 2 and 15 as examples of extremes. The delegation indicated it will review any posted amendment and consider the bill next week; no formal vote was taken during the Feb. 7 hearing.
