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Bill

HB 685

Rural NC Reinvestment Act.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Eric Ager and 31 co-sponsors

Garrett County expands local alcohol licensing with new deluxe restaurant and resort licenses, plus clarified festival licenses, shifting regulatory control to the county licensing

Passed 1st Reading
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 685

Summary — HB 685: Garrett County Alcoholic Beverages Act of 2025 (House Bill 685 / Ch. 790)

Note: the materials provided include multiple bills titled “HB 685” from various jurisdictions. This summary focuses on the Garrett County Alcoholic Beverages Act of 2025 (Maryland HB 685), which is the principal bill described in the fiscal note, the bill text versions, and the enacted Chapter 790.

Main purpose

To expand and clarify local alcoholic beverage licensing in Garrett County, Maryland by:
- creating several new license classes for deluxe “complex” restaurants and resort complexes;
- revising festival and special-event licensing procedures and notice requirements; and
- requiring the Garrett County Board of License Commissioners to adopt implementing regulations.

Key provisions and changes

  • New license classes:
    • Class BDR‑DC (Deluxe Complex Restaurant) — beer & wine only.
    • Eligibility: holder of a Class B or equivalent restaurant license; premises defined by board regulations.
    • Minimums: seating for at least 20; minimum capital investment of $25,000 (excludes land/building); capital for purchased/leased buildings tied to SDAT assessed value.
    • Privileges: on‑premises beer & wine; beer off‑premises. Option to add a catering privilege (must provide food; limited to hours/days board allows).
    • Annual fees: $500 (6‑day, no catering); $625 (6‑day, with catering); $585 (7‑day, no catering); $710 (7‑day, with catering). One‑time issuing fee = annual fee.
    • Class BDR‑DC (Deluxe Complex Restaurant) — beer, wine & liquor.
    • Higher capital requirement: $250,000 minimum investment (excl. land/buildings).
    • Privileges include on‑premises beer, wine & liquor and beer off‑premises; catering option may include liquor (subject to same food and time limitations).
    • Annual fees: $2,250 (6‑day, no catering); $2,750 (6‑day, with catering); $2,625 (7‑day, no catering); $3,125 (7‑day, with catering). One‑time issuing fee = annual fee.
    • Class BRC‑Resort (beer & wine) and Class BRC‑Resort (beer, wine & liquor) — for complexes with at least two facilities on contiguous property (separated ≥150 feet); fee schedule varies by number of facilities (examples: two‑facility 6‑day beer/wine fee $700; two‑facility 6‑day beer/wine/liquor fee $3,000).
    • Class BC‑Resort (beer, wine & liquor) — created/clarified to apply to complexes on property at least 20 acres in size (two or more facilities), with specified separation, fee schedule (e.g., $3,000 for 6‑day license covering two facilities).
  • Festival and street‑festival licenses:
    • Beer festival license: board may issue up to four per year; applicants must use the board’s application form; the board must hold a hearing and publish notice at least seven days before the hearing (adjusted notice requirements appear in the text).
    • Class C beer & wine street festival license: clarifies applicant requirements (application on board form), authorizes on‑premises sales in an approved event area (arts & entertainment district), and clarifies transport/consumption rules within approved areas.
    • Clarifies that nonprofit organizations (not only clubs) may qualify for certain Class C multiple‑day/multiple‑event licenses.
  • Governance and implementation:
    • The Garrett County Board of License Commissioners is directed to adopt regulations to implement the new provisions and license definitions.
    • One‑time issuing fee for new licenses must equal the annual license fee for the applicable license.

Who is affected

  • Garrett County Board of License Commissioners (must adopt regulations and conduct hearings).
  • Local restaurants, deluxe restaurants, resort operators, breweries, wholesalers, festival organizers, and nonprofit event sponsors — new licensing opportunities and regulatory requirements.
  • Local government finances — increased local revenue from new annual license fees and issuing fees.
  • Small businesses: minimal fiscal impact noted in the fiscal note; potential new business opportunities for restaurants/resorts.

Fiscal impact and timeline

  • Fiscal note (Department of Legislative Services): No State fiscal effect; Garrett County revenues expected to increase beginning in FY 2026 to the extent new licenses are issued. Garrett County can manage enforcement within existing resources. Small business effects described as minimal.
  • Enactment: HB 685 was enacted as Chapter 790 and signed by the Governor (legislative history shows final enactment and signature in 2025). The enacted chapter specifies adoption of regulations by the Board and contains the license definitions and fee schedules. (Sources include bill text, fiscal note, and enacted chapter.)
  • Regulatory implementation: Board must promulgate regulations and handle licensing/hearings following the law’s effective date and rulemaking.

Practical effect

The law expands licensing options in Garrett County to accommodate larger “deluxe” restaurants and resort complexes with graduated fee structures and catering privileges; it standardizes application and notice procedures for festival/street‑festival licenses; and it places regulatory implementation responsibility with the local licensing board. These changes are intended to support hospitality and tourism development while generating local licensing revenue.

If you want, I can:
- extract and present the full fee schedules and statutory language by section, or
- prepare a one‑page checklist for businesses interested in applying for each new license class.

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

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