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Committee backs bill letting county fair boards authorize alcohol sales and creates yearlong fair permit
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Summary
Senate Bill 23 passed the Public Policy Committee 10–0 after amendments that create a one-year, $0 county fair permit, require designated vendors to hold active retail or craft manufacturing permits, and add procedural safeguards and an exception for minors loitering statutes at fair events.
The Senate Public Policy Committee voted 10–0 to advance Senate Bill 23 after considering amendments drafted with input from the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC) and substantial public testimony from fair organizers and industry representatives.
The amended bill allows local fair boards to decide whether alcohol may be sold at county fairgrounds, creates a one-year permit (with no fee) for local fair boards to designate vendors, and requires those designated vendors to hold active retail or craft-manufacturing permits from the ATC. "We made the permit term 1 year ... Permit fee is $0 so this also reduces the fiscal burden on the county fair boards," Chris of the ATC said while explaining the amendment's seven primary changes.
Supporters included Dylan Mollenkamp of the Jay County Fair Association, who presented numeric estimates for potential additional revenue, saying extended sales could generate an estimated $97,000 in additional revenue for Jay County fairs using conservative per-attendee figures. Steve Patterson and other fair officials testified that other states allow alcohol at fairs without major safety problems and that the change would help sustain operations and programming.
Opponents and safety advocates urged stricter operational controls. Lisa Hutchison of Mental Health America of Indiana argued the bill "continues to normalize alcohol use in all of our daily lives" and warned it could increase access points to minors; she urged wristbanding, designated service areas, ID checks and regular compliance monitoring. Committee members asked how the state fair permit had operated; witnesses said alcohol service at the state fair had been limited to designated, separated footprints.
Committee staff also informed members that an earlier Amendment 5, which had been taken by consent, was later determined to be non‑germane and was removed from the bill by motion and consent. After closing remarks from Senator Clark and a final roll-call vote, SB 23 passed out of committee 10–0. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.
