Rep. Louise Stutes seeks to let patriotic clubs serve members of other posts and allow spirits at events

ANCHORAGE — The House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs heard the first public presentation on House Bill 363 on March 12, a measure by Rep. Louise Stutes that would let established patriotic organizations admit members of other veteran posts and allow serving spirits at permitted special events.

Stutes, the bill sponsor and representative for House District 5 (Kodiak, Cordova, Seward and surrounding coastal communities), told the committee the intent is to “facilitate our veterans and allow our veteran organizations to continue helping out the communities in which they're established.” The bill would (1) permit patriotic organizations to serve alcoholic beverages to members of another patriotic organization without requiring a written reciprocity agreement, (2) allow dispensing all alcoholic beverages (including spirits) at an event under a special-event permit in the venue’s permitted space, and (3) repeal a reciprocity requirement added to statute last year.

Jane Pearson, staff to Rep. Stutes, walked members through the section-by-section language, noting Section 1 authorizes serving members of other patriotic groups and Section 2 extends authority to dispense all alcoholic beverages under an event permit. Pearson said the bill’s language would also conform other sections of the alcohol code and that Section 4 lists examples of qualifying groups such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Veterans but is not limited to those organizations. She added the licensing rules require established organizations and that some license criteria include multi‑year existence thresholds.

Supporters told the committee the change is practical and financial. Justin Mills, commander of American Legion Post 1 in Anchorage, said HB 363 would make it easier for veterans traveling in the state to be welcomed at other posts and would reduce logistical complications when large events spill from outdoor spaces into an indoor bar area. "House Bill 3 63 helps ensure that organizations like ours continue to use our facilities to support veterans and strengthen our community while operating within clear state law," Mills said.

Michael Calhoun, club manager and second vice commander of American Legion Post 5 in Seward, said the reciprocity agreement requirement has not been used in his experience because arranging written agreements among separate posts is administratively difficult. "That reciprocity agreement has not been used," Calhoun said, describing how post bartenders complete alcohol-service training and how posts self-police access and sales.

Committee members raised practical and enforcement questions, including why the prior restrictions were created and how the definition of "patriotic organization" will be applied. Jane Pearson and the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office director, Kevin Richard, said existing licensing criteria and statutory definitions (including multi‑year existence thresholds discussed by staff) constrain who qualifies for the club license; Richard told the committee AMCO does not see this bill creating administrative or enforcement problems.

Members also stressed the bill is not intended to prioritize alcohol over services. Rep. Fields told the committee that beverage sales underwrite a wide array of nonprofit activities and community programming, including veteran outreach and mental‑health events: "This is really not about alcohol at all. It's actually about building community and strong support for veterans," Fields said.

The committee took no vote. Chair Rep. Eisheide said the panel will take public testimony on HB 363 next Tuesday and reconvene Thursday to potentially move the bill out of committee. The measure remains at its first hearing stage.