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SB 746

Harford County - Alcoholic Beverages - Multiple Licenses - Golf Simulator Facilities

2025 Regular Session

Allows Harford County to issue one Class GSF golf simulator license to a holder of Class B licenses, counting it toward the per-person B-license cap.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 792
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Bill Summary · SB 746

Summary — SB 746 (Harford County)

Title: Harford County — Alcoholic Beverages — Multiple Licenses — Golf Simulator Facilities
Chapter: 792 (2025) — Approved by the Governor

Purpose

SB 746 amends Harford County alcoholic beverages law to allow a Class GSF (golf simulator facility) license to be issued to a holder of one or more Class B licenses and to clarify how that GSF license counts toward the statutory cap on licenses held by a single person.

Key provisions

  • Authorizes the Harford County Board of License Commissioners to issue one Class GSF (golf simulator facility) license to a person who already holds one or more Class B licenses.
  • Clarifies that a Class GSF license issued under this authority must be included in the maximum number of Class B‑type licenses that may be issued to the same person under local law (the statute otherwise limits issuance to a maximum of nine Class B licenses to the same person).
  • Repeals and reenacts relevant provisions of the Article — Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis (Sections 22–102 and 22–1607) to reflect these changes.

Note on Class GSF license (background from 2024 enactments): the Class GSF license is for public golf simulator facilities that meet specified facility and sales requirements (e.g., minimum number of simulator bays, facility layout focused on simulator bays, on‑site food service while alcohol is sold). The 2024 provisions also included operational and sales thresholds (annual beer/wine/spirits sales limits, minimum percentages for simulator rental and food sales) and an annual license fee (previously set at $1,500).

Who is affected

  • Harford County Board of License Commissioners: gains explicit authority to issue a Class GSF license to holders of Class B licenses.
  • Multi‑license holders and prospective golf‑simulator businesses in Harford County: the change permits an existing Class B license holder to obtain a GSF license but requires counting the GSF toward the county’s per‑person license cap.
  • Local small businesses and consumers: limited, indirect effects as licensing flexibility may affect business offerings and competition at the local level.

Fiscal and practical impact

  • Fiscal note (Maryland Department of Legislative Services): no material effect on state finances; no significant effect on Harford County finances or operations. Small business effects are minimal.
  • Licensing compliance: businesses and the Board must ensure the GSF license is counted toward the per‑person license limit and comply with any operational/sales rules tied to the Class GSF license.

Procedural / timeline

  • Enacted as Chapter 792, 2025.
  • Approved by the Governor in May 2025 (chaptered as 2025 laws).
  • Effective date specified in the enacted text: July 1, 2025.
  • Companion bills: HB 712 and HB 1954.

If you’d like, I can:
- Extract and present the exact statutory language added to Sections 22–102 and 22–1607; or
- Summarize the 2024 Class GSF license requirements (floor plan, sales percentages, fee) in more detail for business planning.

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

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