To amend section 4303.182 and to enact section 4301.392 of the Revised Code to authorize a municipal corporation or township to allow Sunday sales of intoxicating liquor without local option election approval.
Summary
HB387 would change Ohio liquor law to let a municipal corporation or township authorize Sunday sales of intoxicating liquor by ordinance or resolution, rather than requiring approval through a local option election. The bill creates a new Revised Code section, 4301.392, that gives local legislative authorities an alternative pathway to permit Sunday alcohol sales under a D-6 permit, while still allowing voters to override that decision later through existing local option election procedures.
The bill also amends section 4303.182 to add the new local-government authorization as one of the bases for issuing a D-6 permit. It preserves and expands the framework for Sunday sales at a range of specific venues and permit holders, including airports, hotels and motels, sports facilities, the Ohio History Connection area and state fairgrounds, outdoor performing arts centers, golf courses, ski areas, community entertainment districts, and state parks with working farms. It also clarifies that Sunday sales under a valid D-6 permit may occur during the same hours allowed Monday through Saturday.
Impact
If enacted, HB387 would modify Ohio’s alcohol control statutes by creating a new local authorization mechanism for Sunday liquor sales and by updating the D-6 permit statute to recognize that mechanism. This would affect municipal corporations, township trustees, the Division of Liquor Control, permit holders seeking Sunday sales, and local voters who retain the ability to challenge the authorization through local option elections. The bill would not eliminate local voter control entirely, but it would reduce the need for an election as the initial step to permit Sunday sales in a locality.
Sentiment
The available record shows the bill was introduced and referred to the House Agriculture Committee, but there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided. Based on the bill’s structure, the measure appears designed to streamline Sunday alcohol sales approvals and likely reflects support for local discretion and business flexibility. Because no discussion or vote history is available, there is no documented public sentiment in the provided materials beyond the bill’s stated policy objective.
Contention
The main point of contention is the shift away from mandatory local option election approval for Sunday liquor sales. Supporters would likely favor giving local governments more direct control and reducing administrative barriers, while opponents may object to bypassing a voter approval process for alcohol sales. The bill preserves the right of local option elections to supersede an ordinance or resolution, but the tension remains between elected local authority and direct voter approval over Sunday alcohol sales.