Michigan House Bill HB5481

Michigan 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/27/26
• Refer: 1/27/26

Caption

Liquor: licenses; population threshold; modify. Amends sec. 509 of 1998 PA 58 (MCL 436.1509).

Summary

HB 5481 amends section 509 of the Michigan Liquor Control Code to lower the population threshold for certain municipal civic centers and civic auditoriums that may receive liquor licenses without regard to the usual quota restrictions. Under current law, the facility must be in a city or township with a population of at least 5,500; the bill reduces that minimum to 5,000. The bill continues to limit eligibility to facilities that are owned and operated as municipal enterprises and that are authorized by the local legislative body to apply for a license. The bill also preserves existing restrictions on these licenses: they are nontransferable, cannot be issued to educational institutions or facilities connected to them, and may only allow alcohol sales in connection with scheduled events at the licensed premises. In practical terms, the bill would make it easier for a slightly larger set of smaller municipalities to support civic centers or auditoriums with on-site alcohol service at events.

Impact

HB 5481 would amend MCL 436.1509 in the Michigan Liquor Control Code by changing the population eligibility threshold from 5,500 to 5,000 for municipal civic centers and civic auditoriums seeking quota-exempt liquor licenses. The change affects municipalities, municipal civic centers/auditoriums, their concessionaires, and the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, while leaving intact the existing requirements that the facility be a municipal enterprise, locally authorized, and limited to scheduled-event alcohol sales.

Sentiment

No committee transcript or recorded vote information was provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or partisan division in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears technical and narrowly targeted, with a likely practical focus on expanding eligibility for a small number of municipal venues rather than changing broader liquor policy.

Contention

The main policy issue is the lowered population threshold, which could be seen as expanding access to liquor licenses for smaller municipalities while still preserving quota exemptions. Potential supporters would likely be municipal governments, civic centers, and concessionaires seeking additional revenue or event flexibility. Potential concerns could come from those wary of expanding alcohol licensing or from educational institutions and facilities tied to schools, though the bill does not alter the existing prohibition on those entities receiving these licenses.