HB 1330 Mississippi House · 2026 Regular Session

Local Option Alcoholic Beverage Control Law; revise definition of "qualified resort area".

HB 1330 revises the legal definition of "qualified resort area" under Mississippi's Local Option Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. This change directly affects resorts and hospitality businesses in designated areas by altering how alcohol sales regulations apply to them. The bill amends Section 67-1-5 of Mississippi Code to update the criteria for areas qualifying as "resort areas," which determines the alcohol control rules they follow. This is a technical definition update, not a new policy, and impacts how local governments regulate alcohol service in resort communities. The bill passed the title sufficiency vote on February 3, 2026.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Feb 13, 2026 Signed Apr 8, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the lower → Current version · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands Mississippi's alcohol laws by creating a new legal framework for 'Qualified Resort Areas' to issue package retailer permits, allowing alcohol sales for off-premises consumption in specific locations. It adds a new section to the state code authorizing governing authorities in these designated areas to pass ordinances permitting the sale, storage, and distribution of alcohol by package retailers, a capability previously restricted.

Scope change

The bill significantly expands the scope of alcohol sales permissions by introducing a new category of locations (Qualified Resort Areas) where package retail permits can be issued, whereas previously such permits were generally restricted to on-premises consumption only within dry counties.

SCOPE

Added a new legal provision (Section 67-1-7) authorizing governing authorities in designated Qualified Resort Areas to issue package retailer permits, enabling the sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption in these areas regardless of the county's dry law status.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a comprehensive list of specific municipalities, counties, and individual facilities (items 98-113) that now qualify as 'Qualified Resort Areas' eligible for the new package retail permits.

DEFINITION

Revised the definition of 'Hotel' to clarify room count requirements and updated the definition of 'Retailer' to ensure consistency with the new package retail provisions.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the bill title and status to reflect the addition of the new section regarding Qualified Resort Areas and package retailer permits.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 4, 2026 · House Feb 12, 2026

How they voted

43–7

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 52

Mar 4, 2026

D Democratic18

13 Yea 4 Nay 1

72% Yea

R Republican34

30 Yea 3 Nay 1

88% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 8, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor

executive

Apr 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Report Adopted

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Report Filed

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Committee

Recommitted For Further Conf

upper

Mar 31, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference Report Adopted

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference Report Filed

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed As Amended

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Amended

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Referred To Finance

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Introduced

Transmitted To Senate

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass

lower

Jan 19, 2026

Committee

Referred To State Affairs

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors