Committee approves extending excursion-train alcohol permit to excursion boats in House Bill 1318

An unidentified presenter told the House Rules Committee that House Bill 1318 would extend the existing excursion-train alcohol permit to excursion boats, applying the same laws and restrictions that now govern alcohol service on excursion trains.

"So this bill is about excursion boats. A couple years ago, we created an excursion train permit which allows, groups that offer train rides to serve alcohol via, a certain type of permit. All this would do is take that existing permit and apply the same laws and restrictions to excursion boats," the presenter said. The presenter said proponents envision the permit being used on the Little Rock River and described the change as an economic development tool.

The committee recorded no substantive questions on the measure during the provided transcript. One person had signed up to speak but did not address the committee on the record. The presenter closed in favor of the bill and asked for a favorable vote.

A voice vote followed: committee members responded "Aye" and the chair declared the measure passed, with members congratulating Richard Gonzales immediately afterward. The transcript does not include a roll-call tally or identify the motion mover or seconder by name.

The bill would, as described on the record, allow excursion-boat operators to use the same permit framework and restrictions already established for excursion trains; the transcript does not include specific implementing regulations, funding implications, or an effective date for the statutory change.