Relates to an exemption for certain property from the prohibition of alcohol sales within a certain distance from a school

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kristen Gonzalez

Allows a restaurant license within 200 feet of an exclusively used school or place of worship in a specified Manhattan block, expanding alcohol sales in that area.

REFERRED TO RULES

Summary of Bill S.10616 (2025-2026) – New York

Purpose and intent

The bill amends the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law to create a limited exemption from the prohibition on alcohol sales within a certain distance of a school.

Specifically, it allows a restaurant license to be issued for a premises located within 200 feet of a building occupied exclusively as a school, church, synagogue, or other place of worship, under narrowly defined geographic conditions in Manhattan.

Key provisions and changes

New exemption: A restaurant license may be issued for a premises within 200 feet of an exclusively used school, church, synagogue, or other place of worship.

Geographic scope: The exemption applies only to a premises located wholly within the borough of Manhattan, New York County, within a precisely described block boundary. The bill provides the exact street/lot description for the targeted site.

Condition of operation: The premises must be conducted as a restaurant and located wholly within the specified boundaries described in the measure.

Legal text addition: The new provision adds paragraph (e-18) to subdivision 7 of section 64 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, creating the explicit exception to the general proximity prohibition.

Effective date: The act would take effect immediately upon enactment.

Affected parties and entities

Potentially affected licensees: Restaurant operators seeking licenses in Manhattan near schools or places of worship that fall within the described 200-foot window and geographic boundaries.

Affected institutions: Schools, churches, synagogues, and other places of worship that are within or adjacent to the described area may be impacted insofar as alcohol sales could be authorized within 200 feet of their facilities under the new exception.

Local government and state authorities: NYS Liquor Authority (or its successor), which would administer and determine eligibility for licenses under the new exception.

Procedural and timeline considerations

Sponsorship: Senate sponsor is Senator Gonzalez; co-sponsor is Senator Kristen Gonzalez.

Committee path: Referred to Rules (as of June 1, 2026) with the bill introduced and set for committee processing.

Next steps: If advanced, the bill would proceed through standard legislative channels (committees, floor votes in the Senate and Assembly) before any potential enactment and gubernatorial action.

Immediate effect: The bill states that it takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Notes and considerations

The exemption is narrowly tailored to a specific 200-foot proximity and a clearly defined block in Manhattan, suggesting a targeted policy change rather than a broad statewide adjustment.

The change alters the balance between alcohol sales regulation and commercial use of properties adjacent to schools or houses of worship within the described area.

Readers should monitor for any amendments or clarifications during committee discussion that might adjust the geographic reach, definitions of “premises,” or the interaction with existing nearby-use restrictions.