Prince George's County - Alcoholic Beverages - Multiple Licenses Prohibition - Exceptions PG 313-26
HB0406 amends Prince George’s County alcohol licensing law to expand the list of exceptions to the county’s general prohibition on holding multiple alcoholic beverages licenses for the same person or premises. Under current law, a person generally may not have an interest in more than one license issued by the county board, and multiple licenses for the same premises are also restricted unless a specific exception applies. This bill adds Class B (on-sale) beer and wine licenses and Class B (on-sale) beer, wine, and liquor licenses to the existing exceptions.
As a result, the bill allows certain businesses in Prince George’s County to hold more than one qualifying license where the county’s multiple-license restriction would otherwise bar that arrangement. The measure is limited to Prince George’s County and takes effect July 1, 2026. It is a targeted change to the county’s alcoholic beverages code rather than a statewide policy shift.
The bill amends Section 26-1505 of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, which applies only in Prince George’s County, by expanding exceptions to the county’s multiple-license prohibition. It leaves the general rule in place but adds Class B on-sale beer and wine licenses and Class B on-sale beer, wine, and liquor licenses to the categories exempt from the restriction. The practical effect is to give affected license holders and premises more flexibility in structuring alcohol sales operations under county licensing rules.
The bill appears to have been noncontroversial and ultimately favorable, as reflected by its enactment and approval by the Governor. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided indicating opposition or significant debate. The available record suggests the measure was treated as a narrow technical or policy adjustment specific to Prince George’s County rather than a broader contested alcohol policy change.
The main policy issue is the scope of the exception to Prince George’s County’s multiple-license ban. Support would likely come from businesses and license holders seeking greater operational flexibility, while any concern would center on whether expanding exceptions could weaken the county’s limits on license concentration or alter local alcohol regulation. Because no committee discussion or vote details are available, there is no documented opposition in the provided materials, and the bill’s contention appears limited to the underlying licensing policy question.