Committee advances bill clarifying caterers' alcohol rules, sets 45-day ABC deadline

The Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee voted Feb. 10 to advance Senate Bill 145, which clarifies how the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) regulates catering services and sets a deadline for agency decisions.

Chair Rocky Adams introduced the bill as a technical fix to remove language that ABC had read as restricting catering to "special events," to allow caterers to serve at venues that also contain restaurants, and to permit caterers to store alcohol on-site for events that span multiple days. "This is kind of a simple little bill to clear up any discrepancies," Adams said, explaining the changes were meant to align ABC practice with legislative intent.

The bill also requires ABC to issue a written grant or denial within 45 days of receiving an application, a change Adams said will reduce administrative delay. During debate, an unidentified senator said they planned to vote "no," citing constituent concerns about Sunday alcohol sales and asking for more time to consult conservative districts. Senator Howe praised ABC's practice and voted in favor, saying the department's interpretation aligned with how the law was written.

Committee members recorded a final vote of 10 in favor and 1 opposed; committee staff announced the measure will be reported to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation.

The committee did not amend the bill during the session; proponents said the measure chiefly removes ambiguous language and clarifies enforcement timelines. The next procedural step is a floor vote in the full Senate.