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Committee approves new 'hotel resort' liquor license to help small‑town tourism
Summary
The committee passed Senate File 42, creating a smaller hotel‑resort liquor license class (minimum 20 sleeping rooms and $5 million investment or greater, meeting facilities for 50 people) with local licensing authority and an amendment that reintroduces a 'full‑service restaurant' food standard to limit standalone bars.
House TRW approved Senate File 42, a bill that creates a new "hotel resort" liquor license class intended to help smaller communities expand tourism amenities and rehab older properties. The bill, as adopted, sets a 20‑room minimum and a $5,000,000 capital investment threshold and includes an amendment adding a "full‑service restaurant" requirement.
"It just allows for a smaller entity, in this case, anywhere from 20 rooms and above with a $5,000,000 investment or above to be able to obtain what is known as a resort liquor license," Senator Garew told the committee at 00:18:44.
Senator Garew and committee members described the license as distinct from the existing resort license (currently qualified by 100 sleeping rooms and higher valuation). The hotel resort license allows on‑site packaged sales confined to the premises (guests may take sealed packages to their rooms but not off property) and contemplates meeting facilities for approximately 50 people and other resort amenities tied to the investment threshold.
The Wyoming State Liquor Association testified in partial opposition to the bill as introduced, citing a low 20‑room threshold and limited food requirements that could allow bars with minimal food service. Association representative Mike Mosier and Liquor Division Administrator Tom Montoya worked with the sponsor to draft an amendment that restores a definition of "full‑service restaurant" for this license class to prevent low‑food—high‑alcohol operations. Mosier said the amendment "nails it down" by ensuring the license fits the intended resort and meeting use and avoids the prospect of establishments with only toaster‑oven food service.
Local officials from Douglas — Mayor Kim Paxton, Councilman Ron McNair and City Manager JD Cox — testified in support, saying the license would provide an additional economic development tool for communities that have limited options under the current population‑based license formulas.
Tom Montoya of the Wyoming Department of Revenue's Liquor Division explained that existing resort licenses are not allocated by population and that local licensing authorities (town or county) control operating hours and enforcement. The committee adopted the amendment reinstating a restaurant definition and passed the bill by roll call (9 ayes) to send it forward to the House floor.
"As long as it's on the premises, it does not have to be attached," Montoya said in response to a question about whether the restaurant must be physically attached to the lodging facility (00:54:05).
