HB 921 — "ABC & Gaming Omnibus Bill" (North Carolina, 2025 session)
Summary
- Purpose: A multi-topic (omnibus) bill proposing a series of changes to North Carolina alcoholic beverage control (ABC) law and certain gaming/raffle rules. The changes are aimed at increasing flexibility for vendors and permittees, modernizing certain retail and distribution rules, and adjusting local control (including tribal options) for sales hours and operations.
Key provisions (organized by subject)
1. Display of NC-made spirits (G.S. 18B-800(e))
- Stores must display spirits distilled/produced in North Carolina in a dedicated area or, alternatively, anywhere in the store so long as the product is clearly identified as a North Carolina product (price/shelf tag).
Mobile Bar Services Permit (G.S. 18B-1001(12a))
- Clarifies the mobile bar services permit: permittees may bring and serve malt beverages, unfortified wine, fortified wine, and spirituous liquor at events.
- Purchasing rules clarified: malt/unfortified wine may be bought from retailers or wholesalers; fortified wine from ABC store or wholesaler.
- If serving spirituous liquor, the permittee must purchase spirituous liquor from a mixed beverage–designated ABC store in the same county as the permittee’s principal office.
- Operational limits remain: cannot serve on property owned/possessed by the permittee; notification to the Commission at least one week before the event; no retail sale of individual drinks.
Draft-line cleaning services
- Repeals G.S. 18B-1116(a)(4) (which previously prohibited manufacturers/bottlers/wholesalers from providing draft line cleaning services). Repeal allows these entities to provide such services.
Mixed beverage permit purchase and delivery rules (G.S. 18B-404)
- Mixed beverage permittees may purchase spirituous liquor from any ABC store designated as a mixed beverage ABC store in the same county (language clarifies designated store rules).
- Local boards must offer delivery service to mixed beverage permittees (may use employees or independent contractors and may charge a fee). Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties may request exemptions for hardship.
Sunday openings for ABC stores and local/trial control (G.S. 18B-802; 18B-112(b2); 153A‑145.7; 160A‑205.3)
- Allows ABC stores to open on Sundays where the local appointing authority has authorized Sunday sales.
- Sets earliest opening time for Sundays (either 10:00 AM if county/city ordinance adopted under cited statutes, or 12:00 noon otherwise).
- Provides a mechanism for counties, cities, and certain tribes (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Catawba Indian Nation) to adopt ordinances permitting Sunday operation of ABC stores; requires notification to the ABC Commission within seven days of adoption.
Gaming / Raffles / Game Nights (general)
- The bill states it revises the law governing game nights and removes limitations on 50/50 raffles conducted by nonprofit organizations or government entities. (Text provided by the user is limited; the draft indicates the bill would eliminate prior restrictions on 50/50 raffles, expanding fundraising options for nonprofits and public entities.)
Who is affected
- Local ABC stores and local ABC boards (hours, display rules, delivery obligations)
- Mixed beverage permittees (bars, restaurants) — purchasing and delivery options
- Mobile bar service businesses (permit conditions)
- Manufacturers, bottlers, and wholesalers (may perform draft-line cleaning)
- Counties, cities, and eligible tribes (authority to allow Sunday ABC store operations)
- Nonprofit organizations and government entities that run raffles (expanded 50/50 raffle options)
- Consumers (potentially increased convenience and availability)
Procedural / timeline notes
- Bill status (from supplied records): Passed 1st Reading (House) April 14, 2025; referred to Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee, then Finance (if favorable), then Rules.
- Section-specific timing: Section 4(b) (mixed beverage purchases) is explicitly effective upon becoming law and applies to purchases on or after that date. Other sections do not show explicit effective dates in the excerpts provided.
- The draft is an omnibus with multiple statutory edits (G.S. citations included). Final text could change as it moves through committee and amendment.
Observations / likely impacts
- Increases operational flexibility for permittees and local boards (Sunday openings, broader purchasing/delivery options).
- Potentially improves convenience for on-premise licensees (delivery option) and for mobile service providers, while centralizing spirituous liquor purchases to mixed-beverage–designated ABC stores in-county.
- Allowing manufacturers/wholesalers to provide draft-line cleaning could lower service friction for retailers.
- Removing limits on 50/50 raffles may increase fundraising capability for nonprofits and public entities.
- Local governments and tribes play a larger role in determining Sunday operations; counties/cities/tribes will need to adopt ordinances to take advantage of new flexibilities.
Note: The provided document package included multiple unrelated “HB 921” drafts from other states and subjects. This summary focuses on the North Carolina "ABC & Gaming Omnibus Bill" language and associated legislative activity included in the package.
