WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 8010

AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tina Spears and 1 co-sponsor

The bill allows broad municipal exemptions to proximity rules for liquor licenses and authorizes a Class B/B-H license at 349 Main Street, South Kingstown.

06/11/2026 Effective without Governor's signature
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 8010

Overview

  • Bill: HB 8010
  • Session: 2026
  • Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
  • Title: AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES
  • Introduced by: Reps. Tanzi and Spears (Co-sponsor: Rep. Spears)
  • Referred to: House Municipal Government & Housing
  • Effective date: Upon passage

Purpose: To modify the rules governing where Retailers' licenses (Class B, Class C, Class N, Class I) may be issued and to establish broad permitting exceptions for various municipalities, with a notable specific authorization for a license at 349 Main Street in South Kingstown.

Main Purpose and Intent

  • Adjust proximity-based objections to liquor licenses. The bill tightens or modifies where certain licenses may be issued relative to nearby landowners, schools, and places of worship.
  • Create targeted exemptions allowing certain municipalities to authorize licenses in areas that would normally be restricted under current law.
  • Specifically, it adds a mechanism to permit a Class B or Class B-H license for a particular property in South Kingstown (349 Main Street), effectively enabling its sale of alcoholic beverages there.

Key Provisions and Changes

  1. Proximity and Objection Standards (3-7-19)

    • Existing rule: Retailers' Class B, C, N, and I licenses cannot be issued for a building if:
      • The owner of a majority of land within 200 feet objects to the license, or
      • The building is within 200 feet of a public/private/parochial school or a place of public worship.
    • East Providence carve-out: Retailers' Class A licenses are restricted within 500 feet of a school or place of worship (broader than the 200-foot rule for Class B/C/N/I).
    • Private school definition: Clarified to mean nonpublic K-12 institutions accredited or recognized by the state or the local school committee.

  2. Local Control and Specific Exemptions (Section 1, various subparts)

    • The bill provides a long list of authorized exemptions (post-application) for multiple municipalities to bypass the standard proximity restrictions in specific, named areas or under particular conditions. These exemptions are district- and license-type specific (e.g., Class B, Class C, Class I, Class BV, Class BL, etc.), and include numerous geographic descriptions and map references.
    • Examples of jurisdictions with exemption authority (subject to application) include Providence, Newport, Cranston, Pawtucket, Warren, Bristol, Smithfield, Tiverton, East Greenwich, Barrington, North Providence, Central Falls, Jamestown, Westerly, Woonsocket, Barrington, Middletown, Cumberland, South Kingstown, and others.
    • Many exemptions are location-specific (by street addresses or plat/lot designations) and sometimes tied to particular license types or uses (e.g., a sidewalk cafe, restaurant designation, or specific parcels).

  3. Special Case: 349 Main Street, South Kingstown

    • The explanatory note at the end confirms the act would authorize the issuance of a Class B or Class B-H liquor license for the property located at 349 Main Street, South Kingstown.
    • This appears to be a targeted exception to allow licensing at that location specifically.

  4. Effective Date

    • The act takes effect upon passage.

Who/What Is Affected

  • Retail liquor license applicants and holders (Class B, C, N, I, BV, BL, B-H, P, etc.) across multiple Rhode Island communities.
  • Municipal boards of licenses and city/town councils in the listed jurisdictions, which would gain authority to exempt license locations from standard proximity restrictions after application.
  • Property owners and developers in areas described by the exemptions, potentially enabling licensing where it would otherwise be restricted.
  • Specifically, the South Kingstown property at 349 Main Street would be eligible for a Class B or Class B-H license under the act.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • After enactment, the act would take effect immediately upon passage.
  • Many exemptions require an application to the local board of licenses, with the authority to exempt limited to those described geographic areas or properties.
  • The bill’s extensive list of exemptions includes time-bound or condition-bound language in some cases (e.g., certain transfers or prior license dates apply in transition scenarios), though the primary mechanism is post-application exemptions.

Potential Implications

  • Increased flexibility for municipalities to locate and approve liquor licenses in areas that previously faced restrictions.
  • Possible increased competition among license applicants in designated districts.
  • The targeted authorization for 349 Main Street may impact local economic development, redevelopment, or nightlife considerations in South Kingstown.
  • Given the breadth of exemptions, the bill could significantly alter the distribution of liquor licenses region-wide, reducing the weight of proximity objections in numerous cases.

Note: This summary focuses on the substantive provisions and likely impacts based on the bill text. For operational guidance, stakeholders should review the exact exemption areas, maps, and conditions in the final enacted language.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.