New York Senate Bill S08328

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/3/25
• Refer: 6/3/25

Caption

Exempts certain property located in the city of Glens Falls, county of Warren, from the prohibition of alcohol sales within two hundred feet of a building occupied as a church, synagogue or other place of worship.

Summary

S08328 amends the New York Alcoholic Beverage Control Law to create a narrow, location-specific exemption from the rule that generally prohibits alcohol sales within 200 feet of a church or other place of worship. The bill applies only to a specifically described parcel in the City of Glens Falls, Warren County, identified by detailed metes-and-bounds property descriptions tied to the Plaza Hotel area and nearby historic parcels. In practical terms, the measure would allow alcohol sales on that designated property even though it is within the protected distance of a house of worship. The bill takes effect immediately and does not make a broad statewide policy change; instead, it carves out a single-site exception to existing licensing restrictions under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.

Impact

The bill would amend subdivision 3 of section 105 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law by adding a new paragraph excluding one identified parcel in Glens Falls, Warren County, from the church-proximity prohibition on alcohol sales. Its legal effect is limited to that property and would permit liquor licensing or alcohol sales otherwise barred by the 200-foot rule. The measure affects the property owner or operator of the parcel, as well as the State Liquor Authority’s licensing decisions for that location, but leaves the general rule intact for all other properties.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be a targeted local accommodation rather than a controversial statewide policy change. The absence of recorded votes or committee transcripts suggests there is no documented public debate in the provided materials. The bill’s narrow scope and immediate effective date indicate it is likely intended to resolve a specific local licensing issue in Glens Falls.

Contention

The main point of contention, if any, would be the policy of exempting a single parcel from a generally applicable buffer protecting churches and other places of worship from nearby alcohol sales. Supporters would likely view the bill as a practical correction for a unique property configuration or existing commercial use, while opponents could argue that even a site-specific exemption weakens the uniform application of alcohol zoning and proximity protections. No specific opposing arguments or named stakeholders are included in the provided record.