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HB 1229 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Montgomery County - Alcoholic Beverages Licenses - Health and Safety MC 21-25

HB 1229 requires Montgomery County's Board of License Commissioners to adopt regulations collecting data on the number and location of retail stores selling alcohol for off-premises consumption (like takeout). The board must use this density data when deciding whether to approve new licenses or renew existing ones for these stores. The bill also mandates that the board consider public testimony about health and safety impacts related to license density during these decisions. This law specifically applies to Montgomery County and amends Maryland's Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis code (Sections 25-102, 25-207, and 25-1501).
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 7, 2025 Last action Mar 18, 2025
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What changed between versions

First - Montgomery County - Alcoholic Beverages Licenses - Health and Safety Regulations MC 21-25 → Third - Montgomery County - Alcoholic Beverages Licenses - Health and Safety MC 21-25 · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill was amended to clarify that the Board must consider the density of existing off-premises alcohol licenses when deciding whether to approve new applications, and to add a new section (25-1507) that explicitly requires this density impact analysis. The amendments also update the list of applicable sections in the licensing code and remove a waiting period provision.
Scope change
The bill now explicitly applies to Montgomery County only (unchanged from original) but clarifies the Board's decision-making process for new off-premises alcohol licenses.
REQUIREMENT

Added new Section 25-1507 requiring the Board to consider the impact of existing license density on public health and safety before approving new off-premises alcohol licenses.

Modified Section 25-207 to clarify that the Board must consider public testimony about health and safety impacts based on license density.

Added Section 4-210 to the list of sections that apply in Montgomery County, making the approval/denial process subject to the new density considerations.

Removed Section 4-214 (waiting periods after denial of license applications) from applying in Montgomery County.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill's header to reflect it has been adopted and is now Chapter ______ rather than a bill title.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House of Delegates by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Mar 18, 2025
Committee
Referred Finance
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Mar 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Mar 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters
lower
Feb 7, 2025
Committee
First Reading Economic Matters
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.