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County committee backs three liquor bills to aid small event venues and streamline licensing
Summary
Prince George's County General Assembly Committee moved favorable on three county executive liquor bills that would create a small-event-center license, allow exceptions for multiple licenses, and raise certain alcohol licensing fees; the package passed unanimously, 5-0.
The General Assembly Committee of Prince George's County on Feb. 10 voted unanimously to support a package of three county executive liquor bills intended to help small-event venues and improve licensing administration.
Derek Green of Green Consultants told the committee that PG31226 would authorize the county Board of Licensed Commissioners “to issue beer, wine, and liquor licenses to small event centers,” defined as venues operating on a per-event basis, and would cap the number of licenses issued per year and per state legislative district. Green said the bill would lower the financial threshold for eligibility “from $500,000 to $350,000” to aid small and new businesses.
Green described PG31326 as an effort to “lift restrictions for small business owners who seek to obtain multiple alcoholic beverages licenses” and to correct a practice where owners register licenses in relatives’ names, making it hard to verify ownership and proceeds. PG31726 was described as increasing certain application, permit and license-transfer fees (cited in the presentation as roughly a 10% increase).
On behalf of the county executive, Mr. Jackson said the administration supported all three measures. Chair Wanika Fisher made a single motion to move the three bills favorably, seconded by Vice Chair Veil Adam Stafford. The clerk called the roll; the measure passed 5-0.
The committee record shows the bills are intended to expand opportunities for small business operators seeking event-focused liquor licenses, to improve the board’s ability to track license ownership and revenue flows, and to adjust fee structures. No amendments were recorded during the committee’s action. The committee did not request additional fiscal detail at the meeting; the presenter described the licensing-threshold change and the administrative-recording changes as the primary policy effects.
