Bill > AB828

This bill creates a new type of alcohol licensing program specifically for certain census tracts in Los Angeles County. The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control would be authorized to issue up to 12 new neighborhood-restricted special on-sale general licenses per year starting in 2026, with a maximum of 40 total licenses to be issued. These licenses are specifically for bona fide public eating places located in designated census tracts, with strict limitations on how they can be transferred or sold. Each of three specified groups of census tracts can have no more than 20 such licenses concurrently held. The bill includes several important restrictions: licensees cannot transfer the license between counties, can only sell the license for the original fee paid, and cannot exchange the license for a standard on-sale license. Eligibility is limited, excluding those who have recently held an on-sale general license for the same premises. The legislation is designed to address unique liquor licensing conditions in Los Angeles County, with the department granted authority to create rules for implementing these provisions. The bill emphasizes that these are special-use licenses that maintain most privileges of standard on-sale general licenses for eating establishments.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB828