Wicomico County - Alcoholic Beverages - Class B (Golf Course) License - Hours of Sale
HB0754 amends Maryland’s alcoholic beverages law as it applies only in Wicomico County. The bill changes the permitted hours for a Class B beer, wine, and liquor (golf course) license, allowing holders to begin sales earlier in the day. Under the revised schedule, licensees may sell alcoholic beverages Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. the following day, and on Sunday from 7 a.m. to midnight. The bill does not change who may qualify for the license, the type of premises covered, or the annual license fee.
The license continues to apply to public, for-profit golf courses in Wicomico County that own real estate in the county and have at least 18 holes. Sales remain limited to consumption on the golf course property and in associated buildings, including the clubhouse, and patrons still do not need to be seated to be served. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
The bill makes a narrow, county-specific amendment to Title 32 of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, changing only the hours of sale for Wicomico County’s Class B (golf course) liquor license. It leaves the county-only applicability of the title intact and does not alter licensing eligibility, enforcement structure, or the $2,200 annual fee. The practical effect is to expand operating hours for qualifying golf course license holders and potentially increase service opportunities and revenue for those businesses.
The available record shows no committee transcripts, recorded votes, or other debate, so there is no documented opposition in the materials provided. The bill’s enactment and gubernatorial approval suggest it moved through the process without notable public controversy in the available record. Based on the text alone, the measure appears to have been a routine local licensing adjustment rather than a broadly contested policy change.
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Any possible concerns would likely have centered on the policy choice to allow earlier alcohol sales at golf course venues, including questions about local alcohol availability, Sunday sales, and whether the expanded hours were appropriate for a county-specific license. However, the record provided does not identify any legislators, stakeholders, or community groups taking opposing positions.