HB276 (2025) Detail

(New Title) establishing a liquor license where beverages, wine, and liquor can be sold without food.


HB 276 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

 

26Mar2025... 1033h

2025 SESSION

25-0552

08/05

 

HOUSE BILL 276

 

AN ACT establishing a liquor license where beverages, wine, and liquor can be sold without food.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Hemingway, Sull. 6

 

COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs

 

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 

This bill establishes a tavern license allowing the sale of beverages, wine, and liquor without the sale of food.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

26Mar2025... 1033h 25-0552

08/05

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

 

AN ACT establishing a liquor license where beverages, wine, and liquor can be sold without food.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  New Paragraph; Definitions; Tavern License.  Amend RSA 175:1 by inserting after paragraph LXIV-cc the following new paragraph:

LXIV-ccc.  “Tavern license”?means an on-premise license in an enclosed place of business kept, used, maintained, advertised, and held out to the public as a place operated for the purpose of serving liquor and beverages without the benefit of food.

2  New Sections; Tavern License.  Amend RSA 178 by inserting after section 22 the following new sections:

178:22-a Tavern License.

I.  The commission may issue a tavern license in any town which has voted to accept the provisions of RSA 663:5, I(b), (c), and (d).

II.  The license issued shall entitle the licensee to serve beverages or specialty beverages by the glass, by the bottle with cap removed, or in any other suitable container, wines by the glass, by the bottle with the cork or cap removed or in any other suitable container, or liquor by the glass or other suitable container, as defined in rules adopted by the commission under RSA 541-A.

III.  No person under the age of 21 shall be allowed in the tavern license premises.

IV.  Except as provided in this paragraph, no beverages, specialty beverages, or liquor shall be consumed in the licensed areas except those that are sold by the licensee.

V.  No beverages, specialty beverages, or liquor shall be removed from the licensed premises by patrons, except as provided by RSA 179:27-a.

178:22-b Local Option.

I.  Any town or city may allow the operation of tavern licenses under RSA 178:21-a according to the provisions of this subdivision, in the following manner:

(a)  In a town, the question shall be placed on the warrant of an annual town meeting under the procedures set out in RSA 39:3, and shall be voted on a ballot. In a city, the legislative body may vote to place the question on the official ballot for any regular municipal election, or, in the alternative, shall place the question on the official ballot for any regular municipal election upon submission to the legislative body of a petition signed by 5 percent of the registered voters.

(b)  The selectmen, aldermen, or city council shall hold a public hearing on the question at least 15 days but not more than 30 days before the question is to be voted on. Notice of the hearing shall be posted in at least 2 public places in the municipality and published in a newspaper of general circulation at least 7 days before the hearing.

(c)  The wording of the question shall be substantially as follows: "Shall we allow the operation of Tavern Licenses as defined in RSA 178:22-a within the town or city?"

II.  If a majority of those voting on the question vote "Yes," tavern licenses may be operated within the town or city.

III.  If the question is not approved, the question may later be voted upon according to the provisions of paragraph I at the next annual town meeting or regular municipal election.

IV. A municipality that has voted to allow the operation of tavern licenses may consider rescinding its action in the manner described in paragraph I of this section.

V. An unincorporated place may allow the operation of tavern licenses by majority vote of the county delegation, after a public hearing is held.

3  Fees; Expiration Dates; Transfers; Tavern License Included.  Amend RSA 178:29, I to read as follows:

I. On-premises licensees shall pay the following applicable fees annually:

Supplemental Beverages Beverages Cocktail

  Only and Wine and Liquor Lounge

Airport $1,200

Ballroom $ 45 $1,200

Bed and Breakfast $ 480 $ 840

Beer and Specialty Beverage

Festival

  One-day $ 250  

  Two-day $ 300

  Three-day $ 350

Catering (all) $1,200

Catering (off-site only) $ 840

Catering (on-site only)

  18 events $ 5

  36 events $ 5

  52 events $ 5

Club Military $ 100

Club Social

  9 events $ 250  

  18 events $ 450

  36 events $ 750

  52 events $1,200

Club Private $1,200

Club Veterans

  9 events $ 250

  18 events $ 450

  36 events $ 750

  52 events $1,200

College Club $1,200

Convention Center $2,400

Dining Car $ 480 $ 840

Fairs $ 112

Hotel $ 840 $1,200

Liquor Festival

  One-day $250

  Two-day $300

  Three-day $350

One day License $ 100

Performing Arts $ 360

Racetrack/Motor Vehicle $1,800

Racetrack/Pari-Mutuel $3,000

Rail Cars $1,200

Restaurant $ 480 $ 840 $1,200

Special License $ 25

Sports/Entertainment $1,800

Complex

  9 events $ 250

  18 events $ 450

  36 events $ 750

  52 events $1,200

Sports Recreation

Facility $1,200

Tavern License $6,480

Tobacco Retailer $ 840

Vessel $ 480 $ 840 $1,200

Wine Festival

  One-day $ 250

  Two-day $ 300

  Three-day $ 350

4  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Amendments

Date Amendment
March 19, 2025 2025-1033h

Links


Date Body Type
Jan. 14, 2025 House Hearing
Jan. 30, 2025 House Exec Session
March 19, 2025 House Exec Session
March 19, 2025 House Floor Vote

Bill Text Revisions

HB276 Revision: 47631 Date: March 26, 2025, 9:26 a.m.
HB276 Revision: 47553 Date: March 19, 2025, 4:10 p.m.
HB276 Revision: 46099 Date: Jan. 6, 2025, 10:24 p.m.

Docket


March 27, 2025: Introduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 10


March 26, 2025: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-1033h: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10


March 26, 2025: Amendment # 2025-1033h (NT): AA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10


March 19, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1033h (NT) 03/19/2025 (Vote 14-1; CC) HC 17 P. 7


March 13, 2025: Executive Session: 03/19/2025 10:00 am LOB 302-304


March 13, 2025: Subcommittee Work Session: 03/18/2025 10:00 am LOB 302-304


March 7, 2025: Subcommittee Work Session: 03/12/2025 01:15 pm LOB 302-304


Feb. 13, 2025: Subcommittee Work Session: 02/18/2025 11:00 am LOB 104


Jan. 23, 2025: ==RECESSED== Executive Session: 01/30/2025 11:00 am LOB 302-304


Jan. 16, 2025: Subcommittee Work Session: 01/22/2025 10:00 am LOB 302-304


Jan. 9, 2025: Public Hearing: 01/14/2025 02:00 pm LOB 307


Jan. 7, 2025: Introduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs HJ 2 P. 13