SB 1065 West Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Reforming licenses related to sale of alcohol and nonintoxicating alcohol products

SB 1065 consolidates over 20 alcohol-related licenses into streamlined categories, eliminating fees for brewpubs, grocery store curbside sales, and private venues like restaurants and hotels. It removes outdated requirements (e.g., two-year operational periods for clubs) and allows distilleries to self-distribute liquor within market zones without extra fees. The bill replaces obsolete licenses - such as private golf clubs, wedding venues, and hotel bars - with a new "private venue" license covering restaurants, spas, bed-and-breakfasts, and event spaces. Key changes include eliminating nonintoxicating beer growler fees and permitting limited free sampling for retailers.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 23, 2026 Last action Mar 5, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Committee Substitute sb1065 sfat barrett _1 2-27 adopted.htm · 9 edits
MAJOR
This bill was amended to significantly consolidate and reform alcohol licensing by eliminating numerous specific private club licenses (such as hotels, golf clubs, and food trucks) and replacing them with broader, more flexible categories like 'Private Accommodation' and 'Private Venue.' The changes also remove operational requirements like the two-year history rule for private clubs, adjust various license fees, and introduce new privileges for selling growlers and conducting charitable auctions.
Scope change
The bill's scope shifted from regulating many distinct, specialized private club licenses to a more consolidated framework with fewer, broader license types and updated eligibility criteria.
ELIGIBILITY

Eliminated the requirement for social, fraternal, and for-profit private clubs to have been in operation for two years before applying for a license.

Permitted wineries and farm wineries to sell hard cider in wine growlers when licensed as a private wine venue or alcohol manufacturer.

Allowed Class A retail dealers to apply for up to six free nonintoxicating beer floorplan extensions per year.

REQUIREMENT

Repealed the specific licenses for private hotels, resort hotels, golf clubs, food trucks, food courts, bakeries, caterers, and various sports venues, replacing them with consolidated categories.

Mandated that all private club types, private wine venues, and taverns must use an approved age verification system.

Authorized private venue restaurants and alcohol manufacturers to sell and deliver craft cocktail growlers for off-premises consumption.

Eliminated the proration of license fees for Class A and B retail dealers and private club types.

DEFINITION

Created new, broader license categories including 'Private Accommodation' (for hotels, B&Bs, and short-term rentals) and 'Private Venue' (covering restaurants, bars, and event spaces) to replace the eliminated specific licenses.

FISCAL

Adjusted license fees for various entities, including increasing fees for some private clubs and establishing new fee structures for consolidated license types.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2026

How they voted

2012
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 33
Mar 3, 2026
D Democratic2
2 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican31
18 Yea 12 Nay 1
58% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Mar 5, 2026
Committee
To House Finance
lower
Mar 5, 2026
Committee
To Finance
lower
Mar 5, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Title amendment adopted
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 307)
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee substitute reported
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Committee
To Finance
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Patricia Rucker
Patricia Rucker
RRepublican
WV
16