Bill > HB1318

This bill amends Arkansas's alcohol beverage laws to expand the existing excursion train permit to include excursion boats, effectively creating a new category of alcohol sales permit. The bill defines an "excursion boat" as a publicly accessible boat operating on a navigable body of water with a fixed schedule and specific beginning and ending points, similar to how excursion trains are currently defined. The legislation allows operators of excursion boats to apply for a permit to sell and serve alcoholic beverages to passengers during their journey, under the same conditions currently applied to excursion trains. Key provisions include: operators must pay a $200 annual permit fee, can sell alcoholic beverages only to passengers of legal age during operating hours, are permitted to store beverages on the vessel, and must display the permit on the boat. Additionally, alcohol sales are only authorized in territories that have legalized alcoholic beverage sales. The bill essentially extends the existing regulatory framework for alcohol sales on excursion trains to include excursion boats, providing a standardized approach for both types of transportation venues.

Government Affairs

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1318&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R