Bill > AB863

Introduced Session

This bill allows a person who holds a no-sale event venue permit issued by the Division of Alcohol Beverages (DAB) in the Department of Revenue to rent property for use as an event venue at which alcohol beverages are consumed at up to 36 events per year, with each event lasting no longer than 36 hours. Under current law, an owner or other person in charge of a public place may not permit the consumption of alcohol beverages at the public place unless the person has an appropriate retail license. However, there are various exceptions to this prohibition, including for county parks, athletic fields, and churches. Beginning on January 1, 2026, there is also an exception for a person who holds a no-sale event venue permit issued by DAB (discussed further below). Although current law does not define “public place,” beginning on January 1, 2026, for purposes of the prohibition, a public place includes a venue or location that is held out or available to the public to rent for an event or social gathering, not including certain locations such as overnight lodging. Under current law, beginning on January 1, 2026, DAB may issue a no-sale event venue permit to a property owner authorizing the permittee to rent real property for use as an event venue at which fermented malt beverages (beer) and wine are consumed, but only on six or fewer days per year and not more than one day per month. Subject to certain restrictions, a no-sale event venue permit authorizes the permittee to do any of the following: 1) allow the renter of the event venue to bring the renter’s own beer and wine onto the event venue and serve it to guests without charge; 2) allow the guests of the renter to bring beer and wine onto the event venue to be consumed by the guests without charge; 3) allow the renter to obtain temporary Class “B” and “Class B” licenses for an event held on the event venue and sell beer and wine under the temporary licenses on the event venue; or 4) allow the renter to contract with a caterer for the caterer to provide beer and wine to the renter and guests without charge on the event venue. If the renter contracts with a caterer, the caterer may deliver and serve the beer and wine at the event venue, but service must be performed by bartenders holding an operator’s license. The renter may not allow any person to possess distilled spirits on the event venue. If there are 20 or more people on the event venue, service of beer and wine must be performed by a bartender holding an operator’s license. This bill allows a person who holds a no-sale event venue permit to rent property for use as an event venue at which alcohol beverages are consumed at no more than 36 events per calendar year, with no monthly limitation. Each event is limited to no more than 36 hours in duration. The bill also allows the consumption of distilled spirits, as well as beer and wine, at an event held under the permit. In addition, if a licensed bartender is required to serve alcohol beverages at an event, a person who holds an operator’s permit issued by DAB satisfies this requirement. The bill also specifies that the fact that an event venue is a public place for purposes of the prohibition on consuming alcohol in a public place has no effect on whether the event venue is a public or private place for other purposes under law.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Clint Anderson (D)*,  Brienne Brown (D)*,  Joan Fitzgerald (D)*,  Jenna Jacobson (D)*,  Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D)*,  Pricilla Prado (D)*,  Ann Roe (D)*,  Angela Stroud (D)*,  Randy Udell (D)*,  Rob Hutton (R),  André Jacque (R),  Melissa Ratcliff (D),  Kelda Roys (D),  Mark Spreitzer (D), 

Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1 (on 03/23/2026)

Official Document