Bill > H176

This bill aims to return control over liquor license issuance to municipalities. The key provisions include: 1. Allowing cities and towns to determine the number of all alcoholic beverage or wine and malt beverage licenses to be issued by their local licensing authorities, including the number of seasonal licenses. 2. Requiring cities and towns that seek to grant additional licenses on or after January 1, 2018 to adopt an approved plan that determines the process for granting those additional licenses, including holding at least one public hearing. 3. Requiring the governing body of each city or town to hold a public hearing regarding a license application within 30 days of the date of the application. 4. Making all new licenses issued after July 1, 2016 non-transferable, and requiring returned or closed licenses to be re-issued by the licensing authority to new qualified applicants. 5. Repealing sections of the law that previously set statewide limits on the number of licenses that could be issued. Overall, this bill seeks to decentralize control over liquor licensing and give more authority to local municipalities.

Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H176