Pennsylvania House Bill HB450

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/3/25
• Refer: 2/3/25

Caption

An Act amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the Liquor Code, in Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, providing for amnesty for disciplinary actions regarding COVID-19 protocols.

Summary

HB450 would amend Pennsylvania’s Liquor Code to create an amnesty process for certain liquor license disciplinary actions tied to COVID-19 protocols. Specifically, it directs that any license suspended or revoked, or any other disciplinary action taken by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, for failure to comply with specified COVID-19-related gubernatorial proclamations, Department of Health orders, Department of Human Services guidance, or related public health regulations during the period of the Governor’s March 6, 2020 disaster emergency would be removed or reinstated. The bill is narrowly focused on actions taken during the COVID-19 emergency period and does not broadly change liquor licensing rules outside that context. Its practical effect would be to restore licenses or clear disciplinary records for affected licensees whose penalties were based on pandemic-era compliance issues, potentially reversing enforcement outcomes that occurred under emergency public health directives.

Impact

HB450 would amend the Liquor Code by adding a new section to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board provisions, requiring the board to remove or reinstate certain disciplinary actions connected to COVID-19 protocol violations. The bill would affect liquor licensees who were penalized for noncompliance with emergency orders, health department directives, quarantine/isolation rules, or related guidance issued during the COVID-19 disaster emergency. It would not appear to alter the board’s general enforcement authority going forward, but it would create a retroactive remedy for a defined set of pandemic-era sanctions.

Sentiment

The available record shows the bill was introduced with a group of House sponsors and referred to the Committee on Liquor Control, but there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided. Based on the bill’s subject matter, the measure appears to be framed as a corrective or relief bill for licensees affected by emergency COVID-19 enforcement. Because no debate or vote history is included, there is no documented public sentiment in the provided materials beyond the bill’s sponsorship and referral.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely to be whether the state should retroactively erase or reverse disciplinary actions taken against liquor licensees for violating COVID-19 protocols. Supporters would likely view the bill as fair relief from emergency rules that were temporary and unusually burdensome, while opponents may argue that it undermines enforcement of lawful public health orders and could reward noncompliance. Another possible issue is the scope of the amnesty, including which actions qualify and whether reinstatement should be automatic or case-specific.