Harford delegation advances two alcohol-license changes, delays vote on performing-arts measure

The Harford County delegation on Thursday approved two technical changes to local alcohol-license rules and postponed a third until clerical bill language is available.

The measures that passed were LR1311, which clarifies how a Class GSF (Golf Simulator Facility) license counts toward a retailer’s maximum Class B licenses, and LR1464, which allows the county liquor board to post public-hearing notices online in lieu of placing them in a county newspaper. The delegation deferred a vote on a performing-arts nonprofit record-keeping bill until the bill receives an official LR number and final bill text from the Department of Legislative Services.

The delegation’s chair, Delegate Teresa Riley, said the Harford County Liquor Control Board had reviewed and supported all three bills, but the performing-arts measure will be taken up at the next meeting once the official LR is available. Mackenzie Donaldson, an analyst with the Department of Legislative Services, told the delegation the bill language before members already had passed DLS review and that the change when filed would be limited to assignment of an LR number.

LR1311 clarifies that a license for a golf-simulator facility is a type of license that may be held as part of the retail license holder’s existing maximum number of Class B licenses. The bill text states the Class GSF counts toward the licensee’s cap (nine Class B licenses total); in plain terms, a holder may add one Class GSF but must remain within the statutory limit on Class B licenses.

LR1464 amends the county’s hearing-notice requirements so that the Harford County Liquor Control Board may either publish notices in a newspaper or post them online at least 14 days before a hearing. Chair Riley said the change mirrors similar language the General Assembly adopted for Baltimore County last year and reflects local changes in newspaper availability.

The performing-arts bill, introduced for discussion, would align local record-keeping and inspection references with the state Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Cannabis (ATC) after the agency was spun out of the comptroller’s enforcement functions. Jeff Kelly, executive director of the Maryland Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, described the measure as “a pretty easy bill” that removes references and enforcement obligations for the comptroller and clarifies that investigations and potential licensing complaints should go to local liquor boards rather than prompting immediate state-level suspension authority.

The delegation took voice votes on the two bills that passed. For LR1311 (golf-simulator license) the roll-call portion recorded affirmative votes from Delegate McComis, Delegate Aracan, Delegate Griffith, Delegate Andre Johnson and Chair Teresa Riley; Delegate Steve Johnson was recorded absent at the time of the vote. For LR1464 (hearing notice), a voice vote also carried with the delegation recording similar affirmative support and one member absent.

The delegation’s liquor-control representative and state ATC staff said they would return if members request additional technical edits once the performing-arts bill has a formal LR number and printed bill language.

Votes at a glance: LR1311 (Golf Simulator Facility license) — motion to move favorable; outcome: approved by voice vote (recorded yes votes: McComis; Aracan; Griffith; Andre Johnson; Teresa Riley; absent: Steve Johnson). LR1464 (Hearing notice online or newspaper) — motion to move favorable; outcome: approved by voice vote (majority; one member absent). The performing-arts nonprofit record-keeping bill was discussed and will be voted on after the official LR is provided.

Funding and administrative impact notes: delegation discussion noted potential savings for the liquor board from shifting newspaper notices online; no dollar amounts beyond anecdotal savings were recorded in the meeting.