Bill
SB 2331
The bill expands local control by allowing exemptions to proximity rules for liquor licenses and adds a Providence Class B license at 150 Broadway.
Date Introduced: January 23, 2026
Sponsor: Senator Samuel W. Bell (co-sponsor: Sam Bell)
Committee: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
Status: Passed House concurrence (April 28, 2026)
Effective Date: Upon passage
Purpose and intent
- The bill amends Rhode Island law governing where Retailers' Licenses (specifically Class B, Class C, Class N, and Class I licenses, along with licenses referenced in § 3-7-16.8) may be issued for sale of beverages.
- It establishes new or modified proximity rules and adds targeted exemptions (local discretion) for specific geographic areas and licenses in various municipalities, with a key explicit provision allowing a single new Class B license at 150 Broadway in Providence.
Key provisions and changes
1) Proximity and objection rules (3-7-19) ( subsections (a)-(d) ):
- General rule: Retailers' Class B, C, N, and I licenses cannot be issued for sale of beverages in:
- Any building within 200 feet of landowners who file objections (their land is within 200 feet of the building).
- Any building within 200 feet of a public, private, or parochial school, or a place of public worship.
- Special Providence rule: In Providence, retailer Class A licenses are prohibited within 500 feet of a school or place of worship (instead of 200 feet).
- Definition of “private school” clarified (K-12, accredited or recognized by the relevant local authority).
- Transfer/ pre-1978 grandfathering: The 200-foot proximity restrictions do not apply to certain pre-1978 licenses, or to transfers predating the cited school/worship locations.
2) Local exemptions and carve-outs (d)(1)-(76):
- The bill grants broad, enumerated authority to various local boards and councils (city/town boards of licenses) to exempt certain proposed licenses from the standard proximity restrictions, after application.
- Exemption areas include numerous named neighborhoods, streets, plats, and map references across multiple Rhode Island municipalities (e.g., Providence, Newport, Cranston, Pawtucket, East Providence, Barrington, Barrington, Westerly, Woonsocket, Jamestown, Smithfield, North Providence, Central Falls, Tiverton, Barrington, etc.).
- Some exemptions are tied to specific license types (e.g., Class B, Class BV, Class BL, Class BX, etc.) and to special districts or historic areas.
- Specific local exemptions are often condition-based (after application) and may require compliance with tax payment and other local requirements (as seen in several exemptions that reference tax status, MOU provisions, or transfer conditions).
- Notable targeted provision: The act explicitly adds a provision allowing, upon application and exemption authorization, a Retailers' Class B license for the property at 150 Broadway, Providence (as explained in the explanatory text).
3) Exemption mechanics and conditions
- Exemptions are not automatic; they require an application to the local board of licenses (or city council) and subsequent authorization.
- Several exemptions reference compliance conditions (e.g., current on all local/state taxes, adherence to transfer restrictions, or adherence to previously established agreements).
4) Exemption scope and limitations
- A long list of municipalities and specific plots, streets, and map lots are identified as eligible for exemptions, indicating a broad but highly localized approach to licensing.
- The act preserves existing license rights for licenses issued before certain dates (where applicable) and clarifies transitional aspects.
What is affected
- Retailers' Class B, C, N, I licenses (and Class B licenses specifically in several exemptions), including transfers or renewals, are impacted by proximity-based restrictions and the newly created local exemption authorities.
- Municipalities’ boards of licenses and city/town councils gain expanded authority to exempt certain locations from the standard 200-foot (or 500-foot in East Providence for A licenses) limitations.
- Providence-specific policy change allows a Class B license for 150 Broadway, Providence.
- Private schools, public/sacred-worship sites, and surrounding properties are affected through proximity restrictions that may limit license issuance in adjacent buildings or neighborhoods.
Key procedural/timeline aspects
- Process: After introduction, the bill proceeds through the usual legislative steps, including committee consideration, Senate passage, and House concurrence, as evidenced by the action history.
- Effective date: Immediate upon enactment (takes effect upon passage).
Explanatory note
- The official explanation emphasizes the bill’s purpose to permit a Class B liquor license for 150 Broadway, Providence, and the overall framework of proximity-based licensing with expanded local exemption authority.
Overall impact
- This bill expands local authority to tailor alcohol retail licensing in specific communities, creating numerous exemptions to proximity limitations in exchange for applications and meeting certain conditions.
- It introduces a notable Providence opening at 150 Broadway, potentially adding new licensing opportunities in that area.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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