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SB 571 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Anne Arundel County - Class A (Off-Sale) and Class D (Off-Sale) Licenses - Population Ratio Quota

SB 571 limits off-sale alcohol licenses (Class A and Class D) in Anne Arundel County to one license per 4,000 residents in each tax assessment district, using the 2005 official map for district boundaries. The Board of License Commissioners must deny new licenses or transfers that would cause a district's ratio to exceed this cap, and cannot approve moving a license to a different district unless it was active by July 1, 2025, or within the 6th tax assessment district. Population data for each district is based on the latest federal census. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 24, 2025 Signed May 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Anne Arundel County - Class A (Off-Sale) and Class D (Off-Sale) Licenses - Population Ratio Quota → Third - Anne Arundel County - Class A (Off-Sale) and Class D (Off-Sale) Licenses - Population Ratio Quota · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill was amended to add a sunset clause requiring the law to expire on December 31, 2028, and to expand how population data is determined for licensing quotas. The amendments also adjust the population threshold for issuing off-sale alcohol licenses in Anne Arundel County from 4,000 to 3,500 individuals per license.
Scope change
The bill now applies only to Anne Arundel County and includes a temporary sunset provision that will automatically end the law after 3.5 years without requiring new legislation.
TIMELINE

Added a sunset clause requiring the Act to expire on December 31, 2028, after which it will automatically be abrogated without further legislative action.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the population ratio threshold for issuing Class A and Class D off-sale alcohol licenses from one license per 4,000 individuals to one license per 3,500 individuals.

DEFINITION

Added a second method for determining population data, allowing the Anne Arundel County Office of Planning and Zoning estimates to be used alongside the latest Federal Census.

ELIGIBILITY

Added an exemption for on-site consumption permit applications held by Class 5 brewery license holders, allowing them to bypass certain licensing restrictions.

TECHNICAL

Added committee report status showing the bill was adopted with amendments and read for the second time on February 21, 2025.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 23, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2025

How they voted

46–0
Passed
Total votes 46
Feb 23, 2025
D Democratic33
33 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican13
13 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
10
Committee
6
May 20, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 818
executive
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Returned Passed
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
lower
Apr 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Economic Matters
lower
Mar 25, 2025
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (137-1-1)
house of delegates
Mar 13, 2025
Committee
Referred Economic Matters
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance
upper
Feb 23, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (46-0)
senate
Jan 24, 2025
Committee
First Reading Finance
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.