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2SSB 5786

Signed

Senate

Liquor license fees

Increasing license, permit, and endorsement fees.

  1. Introduced (completed)
  2. Committee (completed)
  3. Floor Vote (completed)
  4. Opposite Chamber (completed)
  5. Governor (completed)
  6. Signed (completed)
How does a bill become law?
  1. Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
  2. Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
  3. Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
  4. Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
  5. Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
  6. Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
Introduced: April 7, 2025
Last Action: May 17, 2025
Status: C 343 L 25
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AI Analysis

This analysis was generated by AI and may contain errors. It is not legal advice. Always refer to the official bill text for authoritative information.
People & CommunitiesBalancedCorporate & Wealthy Interests

This bill increases fees for most liquor licenses, permits, and endorsements in Washington State by 50%, including for restaurants, bars, retailers, wineries, breweries, and distilleries. It also raises fees for special event permits, distributor and importer licenses, and other specific license types. The changes apply to licenses issued or renewed on or after July 28, 2025.

  • Increases most liquor license, permit, and endorsement fees by 50% across the board, including for restaurants, bars, grocery stores, specialty shops, wineries, breweries, and distilleries.
  • Raises fees for special permits for private events (e.g., distillery, winery, and brewery tasting events) from $10 to $15 per event, and for private wine/spirits sales from $25 to $37.50 per sale.
  • Increases the annual fee for short-term rental operators to provide complimentary wine to guests from $75 to $112.50.
  • Raises fees for special occasion and nonprofit arts organization licenses, as well as for spirits, beer, and wine restaurant, nightclub, and hotel licenses.
  • Increases the spirits distributor license issuance fee to 5% of spirits sales revenue (up from 10% in the first 27 months, then 5% thereafter), and raises the annual renewal fee from $1,320 to $1,980 per location.
  • Increases fees for beer and wine distributor licenses from $660 to $990 per distributing unit, and for spirits importer and beer importer licenses from $600 and $160 to $900 and $240, respectively.

Who is affected

  • Liquor license holders — Businesses that hold liquor licenses (e.g., restaurants, bars, wineries, breweries, distilleries, grocery stores, specialty shops) will pay higher annual fees and may face higher per-event or per-location fees.
  • Alcohol producers (distilleries, wineries, breweries) — Distilleries, wineries, and breweries will pay more to host tasting events, sell at farmers markets, or operate off-site tasting rooms.
  • Retail liquor sellers — Retailers (e.g., grocery stores, specialty shops, convenience stores) will pay more for licenses and endorsements to sell spirits, wine, or beer for off-premises consumption.
  • Short-term rental operators — Short-term rental operators (e.g., Airbnb, vacation rental hosts) will pay more for the annual permit allowing them to offer complimentary wine to guests.
  • Event venues and nonprofit organizations — Nonprofit organizations, theaters, sports venues, and senior centers that serve alcohol will see increased license fees.
Effective: July 28, 2025Fiscal impact: The bill increases state revenue through higher license, permit, and endorsement fees collected by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. Fees for many licenses and endorsements are increased by 50%, and some new or expanded permit types (e.g., for private wine/spirits auctions or distillery events) have higher per-event fees.
Model: Intel/Qwen3-Coder-Next-int4-AutoRoundGenerated: Mar 19, 2026, 9:18 PM

Pro/Con Analysis

Potential Benefits (3)

  • The bill generates additional state revenue through increased fees, which can be directed toward the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board's enforcement and public safety initiatives. This includes funding for age verification programs, responsible vendor training, and monitoring of alcohol sales to prevent underage consumption.

    Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1 (RCW 66.20.010), Sec. 50 (New Section in Ch. 66.08 RCW)

  • Higher fees for spirits retail and combination licenses support the administration of the 'Responsible Vendor Program' and doubled penalties for violations. This strengthens regulatory oversight and compliance enforcement, which can lead to safer communities by reducing alcohol-related incidents and ensuring strict adherence to sales laws.

    Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 44 (RCW 66.24.630), Sec. 4 (RCW 66.24.035)

  • Increased fees for special permits, such as those for day spas and short-term rentals, ensure that local businesses contributing to community amenities are paying a fair share of the administrative costs associated with licensing and regulation. This helps maintain the fiscal health of the regulatory framework without relying on general tax revenue.

    Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1 (RCW 66.20.010), Sec. 2 (RCW 66.20.400)
Potential Concerns (3)

  • The 50% fee increase significantly raises operating costs for large hospitality entities, such as hotels, nightclubs, and major restaurants, which hold high-value licenses (e.g., hotel fees rising from $2,000 to $3,000). These established businesses have the capital to absorb these costs or pass them on to consumers, unlike smaller mom-and-pop shops.

    Business & EmploymentLean industryRef: Sec. 30 (RCW 66.24.420), Sec. 41 (RCW 66.24.590), Sec. 42 (RCW 66.24.600)

  • Distributor and importer license fees are raised substantially (e.g., spirits distributor renewal from $1,320 to $1,980; wine/beer distributors from $660 to $990). These roles are typically held by large, consolidated corporate entities rather than individual small businesses, meaning the financial burden falls on major industry players.

    Business & EmploymentLean industryRef: Sec. 5 (RCW 66.24.055), Sec. 14 (RCW 66.24.200), Sec. 18 (RCW 66.24.250)

  • Producers of alcohol, including wineries, breweries, and distilleries, face increased annual license fees (e.g., domestic brewery fees rising from $2,000 to $3,000 for large producers). While these are often small businesses, the uniform 50% increase applies across the board, potentially squeezing margins for smaller craft producers who rely on these licenses for their primary revenue.

    Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 11 (RCW 66.24.170), Sec. 16 (RCW 66.24.240), Sec. 17 (RCW 66.24.244)

Who Is Most Affected

  • Washington State Liquor and Cannabis BoardPositive Impact

    As the primary recipients of the increased fees, the Board will have more resources for enforcement, compliance monitoring, and public safety programs. This enhances their ability to regulate the alcohol industry effectively.

  • Large Hospitality Businesses (Hotels, Nightclubs, Major Restaurants)Negative Impact

    Large hospitality businesses, such as hotels, nightclubs, and major restaurants, face significant increases in their annual license fees. While they have the financial capacity to absorb these costs, it represents a notable rise in their operational expenses.

  • Alcohol Distributors and ImportersNegative Impact

    Distributors and importers, who are typically large corporate entities, will pay higher annual renewal fees and issuance fees. This increases their cost of doing business, though the impact is likely manageable for established firms.

  • Alcohol Producers (Wineries, Breweries, Distilleries)Mixed Impact

    Wineries, breweries, and distilleries will see their annual license fees increase by 50%. While many are small businesses, the uniform increase applies to all, potentially affecting the profitability of smaller craft producers.

  • General Public/ConsumersMixed Impact

    Consumers may see slight price increases in alcohol if businesses pass on the higher licensing costs. However, the primary beneficiaries of the increased revenue are public safety and regulatory enforcement, which indirectly benefits the general public.