Prince George's County - Alcoholic Beverages - Class B-SEC (Small Event Center) License PG 312-26
Summary
HB443 creates a new Class B-SEC (small event center) beer, wine, and liquor license for Prince George’s County. The license is intended for venues that operate on an event-based or limited schedule rather than standard daily hours, and it authorizes on-premises sales of beer, wine, and liquor to patrons attending events at qualifying small event centers with kitchen and dining facilities.
The bill sets eligibility and operating limits for the new license category. A qualifying venue must meet specified facility and investment/value thresholds, provide food during operating hours, and comply with county use and occupancy rules. The Board of License Commissioners may issue no more than 24 licenses per license year and no more than three in any State legislative district at one time, and the annual fee is set at $3,500. The bill amends the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article to add this county-specific license provision and takes effect July 1, 2026.
Impact
HB443 changes Prince George’s County alcohol licensing law by adding a new license class tailored to small event centers and by defining the venues that may qualify. It affects the Board of License Commissioners’ licensing authority, imposes numerical caps on the number of licenses available, and establishes minimum capital or appraised-value requirements, food-service expectations, and operating constraints for license holders. The bill does not alter statewide alcohol law generally, but it adds a county-specific licensing option within the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been received positively overall. It was reported favorably from committee, adopted by the House with floor amendments, and then passed the House and Senate unanimously on third reading, indicating broad bipartisan support and little visible opposition in the recorded votes. The absence of committee transcript discussion suggests there was no major public controversy captured in the available materials.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are the eligibility thresholds and license caps. The bill initially referenced a higher capital investment requirement and a broader occupancy range, but the enacted text reflects amendments lowering the investment threshold and narrowing the occupancy range to venues accommodating 75 to 110 people. Those changes suggest some negotiation over how restrictive the new license should be and which small venues should qualify. Another possible issue is the county-specific limit of 24 licenses per year and three per legislative district, which balances expansion of licensing opportunities against concerns about saturation or competition.