Prince George's County - Alcoholic Beverages - Class B Beer, Wine, and Liquor Licenses PG 321-26
HB0416 is a local bill applying only to Prince George’s County that would remove the statutory cap on the number of Class B beer, wine, and liquor licenses the county’s Board of License Commissioners may issue. Under current law, the county has a fixed maximum number of licenses in each class, including a cap of 215 for Class B beer, wine, and liquor licenses. This bill would repeal that specific limit while leaving the rest of the county’s license-cap structure intact.
The bill amends the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article to delete the Class B beer, wine, and liquor line from the list of capped license categories in Prince George’s County. If enacted, the Board would no longer be constrained by that numerical ceiling when issuing Class B beer, wine, and liquor licenses, potentially allowing more restaurants and similar establishments to obtain those licenses. The bill is set to take effect July 1, 2026, but the available record shows it was withdrawn by the sponsor before further action.
HB0416 would change Prince George’s County’s local alcohol licensing law by eliminating the statutory cap on Class B beer, wine, and liquor licenses, while preserving the county-specific licensing framework and all other class limits. The practical effect would be to give the county licensing board greater discretion to issue additional Class B licenses, which could affect restaurants, bars, and other on-premises alcohol service businesses seeking to expand or enter the market.
There is limited recorded public sentiment because no committee transcripts or votes are available, and the bill was ultimately withdrawn by the sponsor. The bill’s introduction by the Prince George’s County Delegation suggests local support for reconsidering the cap, but the absence of recorded debate or roll-call votes means there is no documented legislative consensus in the available materials.
The main point of contention is the removal of a numerical limit on Class B licenses. Supporters would likely view the change as a way to increase business opportunity and flexibility for the county’s hospitality sector, while opponents may worry that lifting the cap could increase competition, alter market saturation, or affect regulatory oversight and neighborhood impacts. Because the bill was withdrawn and no hearing record is provided, the specific arguments for and against the proposal are not documented here.