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Senate panel holds bill to allow alcohol sales in tobacconist shops after extended debate on enforcement and local control
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Summary
Committee delayed action on SB 623, which would create a CPCL tobacconist license allowing on-site alcohol sales subject to a 70% premium-tobacco revenue threshold and other conditions; members asked for clearer enforcement mechanisms, local-exemption language (Montgomery County requested an exemption), and penalties or renewal standards before final vote.
Senate Finance held SB 623 after more than an hour of debate over implementation details, enforcement tools and local control. The bill’s sponsor presented a detailed reprint that would authorize a new CPCL tobacconist license permitting on-site alcohol consumption only when specific statutory conditions are met: at least 70 percent of retail receipts must come from premium cigars, pipe tobacco or related accessories; the licensee must submit detailed air-filtration and exhaust plans; employees must sign an acknowledgment about secondhand-smoke risks; live entertainment would be prohibited; and the local licensing board would set license fees in a stated range.
Several senators said their local liquor boards do not have clear penalty or revocation procedures spelled out in the bill and asked the sponsor to provide statutory language allowing local boards to revoke or decline renewal when a holder no longer meets the 70% tobacco-revenue threshold. Montgomery County’s senator said she had received dozens of complaints and requested an exemption for her county; the chair agreed the committee would hold the bill to allow jurisdictions time to weigh in and for the sponsor and staff to prepare clarifying amendments.
Sponsor/Presenter said converted existing licenses would count against local license caps and that license-holders would have until 2028 to come into compliance with the 70% test. Members discussed phased issuance and limiting the number of new licenses issued annually in some counties. The sponsor and staff agreed to draft language addressing local enforcement tools, penalties and an exemption process for counties that do not wish to participate.
Because committee members sought amendments to address local implementation, enforcement and county-exemption procedures, the chair postponed (held) the final vote and asked for letters or proposed language prior to reconvening. The hearing will resume with amendments and possible delegation letters.
