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SB 869

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2025 Regular Session Introduced by Barbara Favola

Dorchester County can raise annual alcohol license fees and start charging new nonrefundable application fees ($150-$200) and $50 transfer fees, effective July 1, 2025.

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Bill Summary · SB 869

Summary — SB 869 (Dorchester County — Alcoholic Beverages Licenses — Fees)

Status: Enacted (Chapter 833). Approved by Governor May 20, 2025. Statutory effective date in the bill: July 1, 2025. Fiscal note projects revenue changes starting in FY 2026.

Purpose

To revise annual license fees for a range of alcoholic beverage licenses in Dorchester County and to authorize the county Board of License Commissioners to charge application and transfer fees for new licenses and license transfers.

Key provisions

  • Adjusts annual license fees for specified Dorchester County alcoholic beverages licenses (selected changes shown below).
  • Authorizes the Dorchester County Board of License Commissioners to charge:
    • An application fee for new licenses: $150 for Class A–D beer & wine applications; $200 for Class A–D beer, wine & liquor applications. The application fee is nonrefundable and does not apply to renewals or transfers for the same premises.
    • A transfer fee of $50 per license transfer.
  • All fee changes apply only within Dorchester County under the county-specific title.

Selected fee changes (current → new)
- Class A beer: $200 → $250 (+$50)
- Class A beer & wine: $250 → $350 (+$100)
- Class B beer & wine: $300 → $350 (+$50)
- Class B beer, wine & liquor: $1,000 → $1,250 (+$250)
- Class C beer: $250 → $150 (−$100)
- Class C beer & wine: $150 → $250 (+$100)
- Class D beer & wine: $275 → $350 (+$75)
- Class B caterer’s license: $150 → $200 (+$50)
- Class C per diem beer / beer & wine: $15/day → $25/day (+$10/day)
- Class C per diem beer, wine & liquor: $25/day → $35/day (+$10/day)

(Complete list appears in the bill/exhibit.)

Who is affected

  • Dorchester County alcoholic beverages license holders and applicants (restaurants, bars, caterers, other small businesses).
  • The local Board of License Commissioners (authority to collect new application/transfer fees).
  • State finances: no direct fiscal effect; revenues accrue to Dorchester County.

Fiscal impact

  • Department of Legislative Services fiscal note: Dorchester County license fee revenues will increase by at least $10,250 in FY 2026 if all currently licensed businesses subject to higher fees renew (66 businesses identified in FY 2024). County expenditures are not materially affected.
  • Small businesses may experience a meaningful increase in operating costs because of higher annual fees and per‑diem charges; new applicants will face nonrefundable application fees.

Implementation and timeline

  • Enacted as Chapter 833. Bill text sets the effective date as July 1, 2025; fiscal impacts are projected beginning FY 2026. The county may begin charging authorized application and transfer fees for new licenses and transfers after the effective date.

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

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