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HB 567 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Dorchester County - Alcoholic Beverages - Arts Beer and Wine License

HB 567 creates a new "arts beer and wine license" in Dorchester County, allowing nonprofit or for-profit businesses (like art centers, galleries, or museums) that display and sell original artwork in an approved arts district to sell beer and wine on-premises with snacks. The license requires businesses to primarily showcase serious artistic work (not mass-produced items), operate between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., and pay a $250 annual fee. It specifically prohibits selling alcohol at locations without original artwork displays or transferring the license to new locations. This bill amends Maryland’s alcoholic beverage laws to establish this new license category effective July 1, 2025.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Signed May 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Dorchester County - Alcoholic Beverages - Arts Beer and Wine License → Third - Dorchester County - Alcoholic Beverages - Arts Beer and Wine License · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill adds new restrictions and exceptions to the Arts Beer and Wine License program in Dorchester County. The main change is that licenses can now be issued to establishments within 300 feet of places of worship or schools if written consent is obtained from those institutions. This expands eligibility while adding a consent requirement to address community concerns.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from only requiring businesses to be in an arts district to also allowing licenses near places of worship or schools with consent
ELIGIBILITY

Added new eligibility criteria allowing licenses to establishments within 300 feet of places of worship or schools if written consent is obtained

Modified the bill title to reflect the new distance-based eligibility criteria alongside the arts district requirement

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for written consent from places of worship or schools for licenses located within 300 feet of such institutions

EXEMPTIONS

Added exemptions for existing licenses, temporary licenses, and specific locations (Cambridge, Secretary, Hurlock) from the new distance restrictions

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 9, 2025

How they voted

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

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
9
Committee
6
May 20, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 800
executive
Apr 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Returned Passed
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Apr 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
upper
Mar 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report by Finance
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
Referred Finance
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters
lower
Mar 9, 2025
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (135-1-3)
house of delegates
Jan 23, 2025
Committee
First Reading Economic Matters
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.