Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Committee approves bill letting county fair boards permit alcohol during fair week
Loading...
Summary
Senate Bill 23 would allow local county fair boards to decide whether to permit alcohol service during county fair weeks; sponsors said it is modeled on state fair practice and witnesses said additional alcohol sales could provide crucial revenue to sustain fairs. The committee passed the bill 9–1.
Senator Clark presented Senate Bill 23 to the House Public Policy Committee, saying the bill would place the decision to allow alcohol service during county fair weeks with local fair boards and create a clear statutory pathway modeled on the state fair.
"Under current law, alcohol can be served at events on the fairgrounds essentially every other day of the year except during the actual county fair itself," Senator Clark said, arguing the change would provide additional revenue options for many fairs.
Several fair officials testified in support. Steve Patterson, speaking for the Hendricks County Fair and the Indiana Association of Fairs, said the change would give counties the choice to authorize alcohol during fair weeks. Ken Martin, president of the Indiana Association of Fairs, expressed the association’s support. Jay County Fair Board member Aaron Loy described his fair’s finances and estimated that expanding alcohol sales across grandstand events could generate roughly $97,000 in additional revenue that would offset operating costs. Loy told the committee his fair’s single concert alcohol sales typically generate $25,000–$30,000 with an estimated 85% profit margin and that the fair draws large grandstand crowds throughout the event.
The committee moved to pass SB23; the clerk called the roll and the measure passed 9–1, with Representative Lehman recorded as the lone 'No' vote. Sponsors left the vote open briefly before confirming the tally. The bill will now proceed to the full House for further consideration.
