HB 2013
In CommitteeHouse
Liquor licensees/fan zones
Concerning temporary authorizations for liquor licensees in fan zones or host cities.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill temporarily allows expanded outdoor alcohol service in designated fan zones or host cities for major international sports events in June and July 2026, permitting licensees to share service areas, serve without local permits, and relax food-service requirements—under oversight by the Liquor and Cannabis Board. It also clarifies and updates related laws to support this temporary flexibility.
- Allows cities, towns, or counties designated as fan zones or host cities for international sports events in 2026 to request expanded alcohol service in a two-square-block area (or two one-block areas) during June and July 2026.
- Permits multiple liquor licensees in the approved area to share an alcohol service area, including with non-licensed businesses, under a joint operating plan approved by the Liquor and Cannabis Board.
- Allows participating licensees to sell and serve alcohol without requiring local permits, without offering food service in the outdoor service area (though food must still be available on-premises), and to serve alcohol in designated outdoor zones—even if locations are not physically adjacent.
- Sets requirements for shared service areas, including security staffing ratios, age verification, training for staff, container standards, and limits on drinks per patron.
- Amends existing laws to explicitly authorize outdoor alcohol service by on-premises licensees (e.g., restaurants, taverns, breweries) and to clarify that the Liquor and Cannabis Board may impose reasonable operational rules for these temporary zones.
- Expires on August 1, 2026—no long-term or permanent changes to alcohol service laws.
Who is affected
- Liquor licensees (e.g., restaurants, taverns, breweries, wineries, distilleries, snack bars) — Liquor licensees in cities or counties designated as fan zones or host cities for major international sports events in 2026 may operate expanded alcohol service areas outdoors, share service areas with other licensees (even if not adjacent), and sell alcohol without requiring local permits or food service in those designated zones.
- Local governments (cities, towns, counties) — Local governments (cities, towns, counties) that host or serve as fan zones for international sports events gain the ability to request and coordinate expanded alcohol service during events, with oversight from the Liquor and Cannabis Board.
- Event attendees — Attendees of international sports events in 2026 may benefit from increased access to alcohol service in designated public areas near event venues, under shared security and service protocols.
- Liquor and Cannabis Board — The Liquor and Cannabis Board gains temporary authority to approve and regulate expanded alcohol service areas, including setting staffing, security, and operational standards for shared service zones.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Expanded outdoor service and shared zones will likely increase sales volume and tips for participating licensees during the high-traffic 2026 event window, supporting seasonal hiring and boosting local business revenue—especially for small taverns, breweries, and snack bars in host cities.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(a), Sec. 1(4)Eliminating local permit requirements reduces administrative barriers and costs for small liquor licensees, enabling quicker setup of service areas and allowing them to focus resources on staffing and operations rather than paperwork—benefiting mom-and-pop venues most.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(d)(i)Mandated security staffing ratios, staff training, and container differentiation improve patron safety and reduce risks of over-service or underage drinking—though effectiveness depends on board rulemaking and enforcement capacity.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(d)(iii)Shared service areas allow small and mid-sized licensees (e.g., breweries, wineries) to pool resources and expand reach without capital investment in adjacent space—potentially increasing foot traffic and cross-promotion among local businesses.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(b), Sec. 1(1)(c)Local governments gain a streamlined, board-supervised mechanism to support tourism and event attendance during major international sports events, potentially increasing local tax revenue and visibility—without requiring permanent regulatory changes.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(a), Sec. 1(4)
Potential Concerns (5)
Relaxing food-service requirements in outdoor service zones may increase intoxication-related incidents, especially in high-traffic event settings, as patrons consume alcohol without food to slow absorption—though security and staff training mandates aim to mitigate this, enforcement capacity is untested for this scale of temporary flexibility.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1(1)(a), Sec. 1(4)Local governments lose the ability to require permits for outdoor alcohol service in designated zones, reducing their regulatory leverage over noise, traffic, litter, and public space use—even though they retain authority to notify the board and coordinate via joint plans.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 1(1)(d)(iii)By waiving local permit requirements, the bill undermines local zoning and land-use controls over public space usage, potentially setting a precedent for future requests to bypass local authority—even for non-event-related expansions.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 1(1)(d)(i)Allowing non-licensed businesses (e.g., retail stores, kiosks) to share alcohol service areas increases complexity in enforcing age verification and preventing over-service, especially if those businesses lack liquor server training or compliance infrastructure.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1(1)(c), Sec. 1(1)(d)(iii)The joint liability clause (Sec. 1(1)(c)) may disincentivize smaller licensees from participating if they fear being held liable for violations by larger or less-compliant partners, potentially reducing participation or encouraging only well-resourced operators to join.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1(1)(d)(iii)
Who Is Most Affected
Small and mid-sized liquor licensees (taverns, breweries, wineries, snack bars) in host cities stand to gain significant short-term revenue and operational flexibility during the 2026 event window, especially those unable to afford large dedicated outdoor spaces.
Local governments gain temporary authority to coordinate expanded service for event visitors, but lose permit control and may face increased public service demands (e.g., policing, sanitation) without additional funding.
Attendees benefit from greater convenience and access to alcohol in public zones near venues, but face higher intoxication risks if food-service waivers and shared-area oversight are poorly enforced.
The Liquor and Cannabis Board gains temporary regulatory authority over shared service zones, but must allocate staff time to review joint plans and monitor compliance—diverting resources from other priorities without additional funding.
Non-licensed businesses (e.g., retail stores, food trucks, event vendors) may benefit from inclusion in shared service areas, but lack training and accountability mechanisms, increasing risk of violations and liability exposure.