SB 623 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Tobacconist Businesses and Establishment of a Premium Cigar Lounge Alcoholic Beverages License (Maryland Premium Cigar Lounge Act of 2026)

SB 623 creates a new "Class C-PCL" license for premium cigar lounges in Maryland, allowing tobacco retailers (tobacconists) to serve alcohol on-premises under specific conditions. The license requires that at least 70% of daily sales come from premium cigars and tobacco products, prohibits locations adjacent to healthcare or childcare facilities, and exempts these lounges from the Clean Indoor Air Act. License holders must install air filtration systems, display smoking notices, and submit annual sales reports. Customers must bring their own alcohol and purchase tobacco products during their visit, with service permitted Monday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Feb 5, 2026 Last action Apr 13, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - Retail Tobacco Businesses and Establishment of a Premium Cigar Lounge Alcoholic Beverages License (Maryland Premium Cigar Lounge Act of 2026) → Third - Tobacconist Businesses and Establishment of a Premium Cigar Lounge Alcoholic Beverages License (Maryland Premium Cigar Lounge Act of 2026) · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand its scope from just 'Retail Tobacco Businesses' to include 'Tobacconist Businesses,' creating a new license category for shops that sell premium cigars and pipe tobacco. The changes add specific rules allowing tobacconists to serve alcohol on-site under certain conditions, redefine who qualifies as a tobacconist based on revenue, and update the definition of 'pipe tobacco' to exclude hookahs. Additionally, the bill now includes provisions for social equity applicants and requires an affidavit when renewing a license.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to explicitly include tobacconists as a distinct business type alongside general tobacco retailers, introducing new licensing pathways and operational rules specifically for premium cigar shops.

SCOPE

Added 'Tobacconist' to the bill title and throughout the text to create a specific license category for businesses selling premium cigars and pipe tobacco.

ELIGIBILITY

Redefined 'tobacconist' to exclude retailers that do not derive a certain percentage of revenue from premium cigars and pipe tobacco.

Introduced a new 'Social Equity Applicant' definition for Class C-PCL licenses, requiring ownership by individuals with specific ties to disproportionately impacted areas.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for tobacconists to file an affidavit with the circuit court when renewing their license.

Added a provision exempting licensed tobacconists from the Clean Indoor Air Act, allowing them to operate differently than other tobacco retailers.

Changed the adjacency restriction for new licenses from being 'adjacent to' a health or child care facility to 'sharing a wall with' such facilities.

DEFINITION

Altered the definition of 'pipe tobacco' to explicitly exclude tobacco intended for use in hookahs or similar smoking devices.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 8, 2026 · House of Delegates Apr 2, 2026

How they voted

42–2

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 49

Mar 8, 2026

D Democratic36

30 Yea 2 Nay 4

83% Yea

R Republican13

12 Yea 1

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion Special Order until Later Today (Senator Hershey) Adopted

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Introduced

Senate Concurs House Amendments

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion Special Order until Later Today (Senator Watson) Adopted

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections

lower

Apr 2, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (97-37-8)

house of delegates

Mar 24, 2026

Committee

Referred Government, Labor, and Elections

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion Laid Over (Senator Hayes) Adopted

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance

upper

Mar 8, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (42-2-5)

senate

Feb 5, 2026

Committee

First Reading Finance

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors