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SB 636 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Frederick County - Alcoholic Beverages - Tasting Permits

SB 636 modifies Frederick County's alcohol permit rules by renaming "consumption" permits to "tasting" permits for beer/wine (BWT) and beer/wine/liquor (BWLT). It sets specific serving limits: for BWT, individuals may taste up to 12 ounces of beer or 6 ounces of wine per serving (or three 2-ounce beer/1-ounce wine samples), while BWLT permits allow 1.5 ounces of liquor per serving (or equivalent samples). The bill affects businesses with Class A licenses in Frederick County, requiring them to pay an annual $200 fee for BWT or $400 for BWLT permits. Key restrictions include prohibiting open containers outside licensed premises, drive-through service, and allowing tasting only on-site.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Signed May 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Frederick County - Alcoholic Beverages - Tasting Permits → Third - Frederick County - Alcoholic Beverages - Tasting Permits · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill tracks the legislative progression of SB 636, which establishes tasting permits for alcoholic beverages in Frederick County. The key substantive change is the expansion of the tasting permit program to include liquor in addition to beer and wine, creating a new permit category with higher fees ($400 vs $200). The bill also shows the bill moving from first reading to second reading status with committee approval.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from beer and wine tasting permits to include liquor tasting permits, creating a new permit category (20-1102.2) while maintaining the original beer and wine permit (20-1102.1).
ELIGIBILITY

Added a new permit category (20-1102.2) for beer, wine, and liquor tasting, expanding the original program that only covered beer and wine.

FISCAL

Increased annual permit fee from $200 for beer/wine tasting to $400 for the new beer/wine/liquor tasting permit.

TECHNICAL

Added liquor quantity limits (1.5 total ounces per single serving, 0.5 ounce per sample serving) to the tasting permit regulations.

TIMELINE

Bill progressed from first reading (January 25, 2025) to second reading (February 16, 2025) with committee approval and adoption.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 18, 2025

How they voted

43–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 46
Feb 18, 2025
D Democratic33
31 Yea 2
93% Yea
R Republican13
12 Yea 1
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
9
Committee
6
May 20, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 825
executive
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Returned Passed
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Economic Matters
lower
Mar 7, 2025
Committee
Referred Economic Matters
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (43-0-3)
senate
Jan 29, 2025
Committee
First Reading Finance
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.