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SB 800 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Dorchester County – Alcoholic Beverages – Arts Beer and Wine License

SB 800 creates a new "arts beer and wine license" specifically for Dorchester County. It allows nonprofit or for-profit retail businesses (like art centers, galleries, or museums) that primarily display and sell *original* artwork in an approved arts district to sell beer and wine for on-premises consumption - provided snacks are served and sales occur between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily. The license is limited to the original location ($250 annual fee), prohibits sales of mass-produced art, and requires the business to be situated in a district approved by the Department of Commerce. This bill modifies Dorchester County’s alcohol regulations under Maryland’s Annotated Code.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Signed May 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Dorchester County – Alcoholic Beverages – Arts Beer and Wine License → Third - Dorchester County – Alcoholic Beverages – Arts Beer and Wine License · 3 edits
MINOR
SB 800 was amended to add a new provision requiring written consent from nearby places of worship or schools before issuing an Arts Beer and Wine License to establishments within 300 feet of them. This change expands the bill's scope by adding a new eligibility requirement that was not present in the original version, while maintaining the existing requirement that licenses be issued to businesses selling original artwork in approved arts districts.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from only requiring businesses to be in an approved arts and entertainment district to also requiring written consent from nearby places of worship or schools for establishments within 300 feet of them.
ELIGIBILITY

Added new requirement that Arts Beer and Wine Licenses within 300 feet of places of worship or schools require written consent from those institutions

REQUIREMENT

Added new subsection 19-1601 specifying the 300-foot distance measurement and consent requirements for nearby religious or educational institutions

TECHNICAL

Changed document header from 'A BILL ENTITLED' to 'CHAPTER ______' and reorganized bill structure with new section numbering

Floor votes · Senate Feb 18, 2025

How they voted

43–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 46
Feb 18, 2025
D Democratic33
31 Yea 2
93% Yea
R Republican13
12 Yea 1
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
9
Committee
6
May 20, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 799
executive
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Returned Passed
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Economic Matters
lower
Mar 7, 2025
Committee
Referred Economic Matters
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (43-0-3)
senate
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
First Reading Finance
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.