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Committee gives House Bill 330 a due‑pass recommendation to allow beer, wine in renovated historic theaters
Summary
House Bill 330, sponsored by Representative Clow, would allow theaters in historic buildings that were remodeled for movie use (rather than originally built as theaters) to sell beer and wine and to admit minors under parental supervision when permitted by film rating; committee recommended the bill be sent to the floor with a due‑pass motion.
Representative Jerry Clow presented House Bill 330 to the State Affairs Committee, explaining the bill would remove a requirement that a historic theater must have originally been built as a theater to be eligible to sell beer and wine.
Clow said the bill responds to remodeled venues in downtown areas that were not originally built as theaters but have been converted to screening rooms; those venues currently face restrictions that bar minors when alcohol is served. “What this bill is changing is that it's in a historic building that doesn't necessarily have been originally built as a theater,” Clow said, adding the change would allow parents to bring their children to niche theaters that serve beer and wine in small screening rooms (he estimated 50 to 100 patrons per screening area).
Clow said existing laws would still bar minors from X‑rated films and that PG‑13 films require parental accompaniment under current rules. The committee attempted to get a virtual testifier on the record but could not connect; the theater owner was noted as a potential witness.
Representative Ojanka moved that the committee recommend House Bill 330 be sent to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation. The committee approved the motion on a voice vote.
Ending: The committee recommended House Bill 330 be sent to the full House with a due‑pass recommendation; several members noted they had no additional questions and the committee proceeded without further amendment.
