S 1279 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Establishes supermarket wine licenses

S 1279 would create a new license allowing supermarkets (defined as 4,000+ square feet with over 65% food sales revenue) to sell sealed wine for off-premises consumption. It requires a $10,000 franchise fee and prohibits licenses within 200 feet of schools/churches or 500 feet of liquor stores. Local governments cannot ban these licenses but may regulate operating times or locations. The bill would expand wine sales in grocery settings while preempting conflicting local laws.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 9, 2025 Last action Jan 7, 2026

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What changed between versions

S1279 → S1279A · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to add new sponsors and update committee status, change the minimum supermarket size requirement from 5,000 to 4,000 square feet, and add new provisions for surplus franchise fee revenue to support New York state wine promotion.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include additional sponsors and modified the definition of eligible establishments for the new supermarket wine license program.

ELIGIBILITY

Reduced the minimum floor area requirement for supermarkets from 5,000 to 4,000 square feet, making the license available to more retail establishments.

FISCAL

Added a new provision directing surplus franchise fees (exceeding $500,000 annually) to the Department of Agriculture and Markets for New York state wine promotion.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the list of exemptions from certain regulations in section 105 of the alcoholic beverage control law.

TECHNICAL

Changed bill number from S 1279 to S 1279-A and updated sponsor names from KRUEGER, COMRIE, COONEY, FELDER, HOYLMAN-SIGAL, RAMOS to KRUEGER, COMRIE, COONEY, GOUNARDES, SALAZAR, SEPULVEDA.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

upper

May 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 1279A

upper

May 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

upper

Jan 9, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

upper

1 primary · 6 co-sponsors