Howard County delegation endorses movie-theater alcohol license bill

At a Howard County delegation meeting in February, members voted to pass HOCO 2025, a local bill that would create a Class MT movie-theater alcohol license allowing on-site sales of beer, wine and liquor to ticketed patrons.

The bill would authorize the Howard County liquor board to issue a movie-theater license to an owner that holds a required alcohol control training certification and to set hours, days of sale and the annual license fee. It would permit retail sale of beer, wine and liquor for consumption on the premises by patrons who have purchased a ticket to a current or upcoming showing at the licensed theater. The liquor board would be required to adopt implementing regulations.

The delegation’s staff presenter summarized language and noted similar licensed arrangements already exist elsewhere: Anne Arundel County and Harford County have comparable provisions, Montgomery County has a theater license, Prince George’s County uses a BLX classification for some cinemas, and Frederick and Washington Counties use class CT licenses for theaters. The presenter said HOCO 2025 gives the local liquor board broader discretion than some neighboring counties’ more prescriptive approaches.

Chair Wu moved the bill and members then recorded affirmative votes. The delegation recorded the bill as passing favorably.

Action taken: the delegation voted in favor of HOCO 2025 and signaled support for the measure to proceed on the senate side; the bill requires the liquor board to adopt regulations and set fees if enacted.

The bill’s next steps include committee consideration and the required rulemaking by the county liquor board if the statute is enacted.