SB 939 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Baltimore City - Alcoholic Beverages - Authorizations and Revisions

SB 939 modifies Baltimore City's alcohol licensing rules by requiring the Board of License Commissioners to charge a $250 fee for expedited processing of temporary event licenses (Class C per diem) submitted less than two weeks before an event. It mandates new regulations for these licenses, including procedures for denial or revocation, and allows specific license types in the previously restricted 40th alcoholic beverages district under strict conditions. These include requiring memorandums of understanding with community associations, minimum investment thresholds ($200,000 for restaurants), seating requirements, and restrictions on sales timing and methods. The bill directly affects event businesses seeking temporary alcohol licenses and the Board, which gains new regulatory authority. It applies solely to Baltimore City under Maryland law.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Signed May 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Baltimore City - Alcoholic Beverages - Authorizations and Revisions → Third - Baltimore City - Alcoholic Beverages - Authorizations and Revisions · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill update modifies the scope of alcoholic beverage licensing in Baltimore City by adding new restrictions on license issuance, limiting how many licenses one person can hold at the same location within a year, and prohibiting certain license holders in the 40th district from selling alcohol during specific hours. The changes aim to better regulate alcohol sales and prevent over-concentration of licenses in specific areas.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include new limitations on license holders in the 40th alcoholic beverages district, including restrictions on when they can sell alcohol and limits on how many licenses one person can hold at a single location.
REQUIREMENT

Added a limit on the number of Class C per diem licenses that may be issued to a single person for the same location within a calendar year.

Added a prohibition preventing certain license holders in the 40th alcoholic beverages district from selling alcoholic beverages during certain times of day.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified the Board's regulatory authority to explicitly include denying or revoking Class C per diem licenses and limiting license numbers per location.

SCOPE

Updated the bill's purpose statement to reflect the new restrictions and expanded regulatory authority.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 18, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2025

How they voted

44–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 47
Feb 18, 2025
D Democratic34
32 Yea 2
94% Yea
R Republican13
12 Yea 1
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
6
Committee
6
May 20, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 811
Apr 2, 2025
Senate · Passed
Returned Passed
Apr 1, 2025
House of Delegates · Passed
Third Reading Passed
Mar 31, 2025
House of Delegates · Reported by committee
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
Mar 31, 2025
House of Delegates · Reported by committee
Favorable Report by Economic Matters
Mar 16, 2025
House of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (133-0-7)
Mar 7, 2025
House of Delegates · Referred to committee
Referred Economic Matters
Mar 6, 2025
Senate · Passed
Third Reading Passed
Mar 4, 2025
Senate · Reported by committee
Favorable with Amendments {
Mar 3, 2025
Senate · Reported by committee
Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance
Feb 18, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (44-0-3)
Feb 3, 2025
Senate · Referred to committee
First Reading Finance
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Antonio Hayes
Antonio Hayes
DDemocratic
MD
40