Committee refers bill to finance to allow additional off‑premise retail liquor licenses

Senate bill S7909, which would amend the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law with respect to off‑premise retail license holders, was referred to the Senate Finance Committee following a committee discussion in which members described New York’s liquor licensing rules as antiquated and restrictive for small retailers.

Senator Scoofus is listed as the sponsor in the bill text read to the committee. Committee debate focused on the bill’s proposal to allow an individual or owner to hold an additional off‑premise retail license (moving from a one‑license limit to allowing a second location). One committee member who identified personal experience in the industry said his family currently holds multiple liquor licenses and argued that the change would help small retailers by permitting increased volume to offset tight margins: “This move to go from 1 to 2 is is is facing opposition … It’s anti small business. … Incredibly small margin business.”

Senator Murray expressed support for the bill but questioned why the change would be limited to two locations instead of permitting multiple locations: “I support the bill. I’m just questioning the same thing. I don’t know why we’re going from 1 to 2. I think it should just be multiple.” Committee members characterized the change as a first step toward broader reform of State Liquor Authority and Alcoholic Beverage Control law.

A motion to refer the bill to finance was moved in committee (recorded in the transcript as moved by Senator Chris Ryan and seconded by Senator Martinez/Bartinez) and carried; the committee reported the bill to finance. The transcript records the referral but does not include a complete roll‑call tally by name in the excerpt provided.

The bill will proceed to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration; committee members signaled openness to broader modernization of liquor statutes beyond the one‑to‑two license change discussed in the hearing.