Alcohol/Tobacco (16)

Date of Last Recorded Action: 3/29/2024

HB 0085 SupportBeer and Wine Package Sales - Counties May Authorize within 100 Yards of School Buildings Harrell, Brett 106th
7/1/2015 Effective Date RegI RI&Util -
Alcohol/Tobacco General County Government Health and Human Services Todd Edwards

Respecting Home Rule, this legislation allows local governments to authorize the sale of package beer and wine from grocery stores within 100 yards of a school or school administrative building (which is currently prohibited by law).  Grocery stores must have at least 10,000 square feet of floor space and reserve at least 85 percent of their sales to food or other nonalcoholic items.  To authorize said beer and wine package sales, counties must pass a resolution or ordinance.  

HB 0152 NeutralCounties Must Report Alcohol Citations Duncan, Geoff 26th
7/1/2016 Effective Date RegI RI&Util -
Alcohol/Tobacco General County Government Todd Edwards
Counties with "bars" (defined as an establishment deriving 75% or more its annual revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages) in unincorporated areas must adopt a policy and process to provide notice to the Department of Revenue within 45 days of any disciplinary action.  Disciplinary action is any citation or arrest on the premises against the holder of an alcoholic beverage permit or license for violations of state law or local ordinance related to the manufacture, distribution or sale of alcoholic beverages at a bar. The DOR Commissioner shall make available a reporting method. Bar bouncers must be 21 or older, and nobody under age 21 can enter said bars. Lastly, this bill makes the sale of powdered alcohol (or "palcohol") illegal in Georgia.   
HB 0261 NeutralExtend Sunday Alcohol Sales at City and County Airports Harrell, Brett 106th
1/11/2016 Senate Recommitted RegI RI&Util -
Alcohol/Tobacco Econ. Dev. & Transportation General County Government Todd Edwards
Aimed at international travelers, this legislation allows alcoholic beverages to be sold from 5:00 a.m. until midnight on Sundays in "sterile" areas of airports that are owned or operated by a city or county. Sterile means past a security check point.
HB 0276 NeutralAlcohol Code - Consolidate and Revise Harrell, Brett 106th
1/11/2016 Senate Recommitted RegI RI&Util -
Alcohol/Tobacco General County Government Todd Edwards
This lengthy legislation makes several changes to the alcoholic beverages law, clarifying and condensing language to streamline that code. This bill also prohibits the sale of powdered alcohol (or "palcohol") in the state of Georgia. 
HB 0340 SupportSt. Patrick's Day - Alcohol Sales on Sunday Petrea, Jesse 166th
3/3/2015 Senate Read and Referred RegI RI&Util -
Alcohol/Tobacco General County Government Todd Edwards
This legislation, mirroring SB 103, allows counties to authorize, through ordinance or resolution, the sale of alcoholic beverages for on site consumption from 12:30 p.m. until midnight on Sunday that falls within four days of St. Patrick's Day. Current law allows said sale from March 16-18.
HB 0460 NeutralDistilleries - Provide up to 3 Samples and Sell Limited Amount Directly to Public Stephens, Ron 164th
2/25/2015 House Second Readers RegI --
Alcohol/Tobacco General County Government Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local Todd Edwards
This legislation increases the number of free samples of liquor from one to three per day by a distiller. The legislation also allows distillers to obtain a retail sales license from the state and sell two bottles, not to exceed 3 and 1/2 liters, directly to the public at the distillery without having to go through Georgia's three-tier distribution process.  Distillers will be responsible for collecting and remitting the excise and sales taxes to the state and local governments.  
HB 0535 SupportAlcohol - Sell Earlier for Sunday Brunch Harrell, Brett 106th
1/11/2016 Senate Recommitted RegI RI&Util -
Alcohol/Tobacco General County Government Todd Edwards
This legislation allows counties, by resolution or ordinance, to allow the on-premise sale of alcohol on Sundays starting at 10:30 a.m. if the county already has approved on-premise consumption of alcohol. Additionally, this legislation expands the times on Sundays that farm wineries may sell wine for on-premise consumption.
HB 0677 NeutralLegalize Casino Gaming in Georgia Stephens, Ron 164th
3/2/2016 House Withdrawn, Recommitted RegI --
Alcohol/Tobacco Business and Occupation Tax Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons
General County Government Land Use/Zoning Law Enforcement Open Records/Meetings Act Public Safety and Courts
Revenue & Finance Todd Edwards

This legislation authorizes up to four casino gaming establishments in Georgia: two in Metro Atlanta and two in other parts of the state.  The state would levy a 20 percent tax on casino revenues; require substantial investment and licensing fees in order for a casino to operate; set aside at least 90 percent of state revenues for the HOPE scholarship program; designate 1-2 percent of revenues for problem gambling organizations; and distribute 1-3 percent of revenues to the local government hosting the casino for infrastructure and public safety purposes.       

HR 807 is a Constitutional amendment that must be passed by Georgia voters in order for HB 677 to take effect.      

 

HB 0690 NeutralState Law Enforcement Officer Obtain Creditable Service for time with Local Law Enforcement Carter, Amy 175th
7/1/2016 Effective Date Ret RET -
Alcohol/Tobacco Debra Nesbit General County Government Law Enforcement Nat. Res. & the Environment
Public Safety and Courts Retirement
This legislation allows certain law officers with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Revenue receive credit for past service as law enforcement officers with local governments.
HB 0907 NeutralElectronic Cigarettes - Provide Regulations Rakestraw, Paulette 19th
2/8/2016 House Second Readers JudyNC --
Agriculture Alcohol/Tobacco Business and Occupation Tax District Attorneys General County Government
Health and Human Services Public Safety and Courts Revenue & Finance Solicitors Todd Edwards

This legislation gives the Agriculture Commissioner the authority to regulate the manufacture and sale of e-liquids and vapor pens. Counties have the authority to adopt ordinances and resolutions to inspect e-liquids sold within the county so long as the ordinance or resolution does not conflict with any power or authority of the Agriculture Commissioner. Counties are not permitted to adopt sanitary standards or specifications that are any less than those adopted by the Agriculture Commissioner. 

SB 0063 NeutralBrewpubs - Authorized to Sell Limited Malt Beverages Hill, Hunter 6th
7/1/2015 Effective Date RegI RI&Util -
Alcohol/Tobacco General County Government Todd Edwards

This legislation authorizes brewpubs to offer, as a souvenir, up to 72 ounces of sealed malt beverages to those taking brewery tours for consumption off premises. Brewpubs may also offer up to 36 ounces of malt beverage samples, for on-premise consumption, to those taking the tour. Brewers are to pay taxes on all souvenirs and samples.  Once permitted, distilleries are authorized to give away, as a souvenir which will be taxed, one 750 milliliter bottle of spirits to those taking a distillery tour and may provide up to three 1/2-ounce samples of their spirits (also taxed) during on-premise tastings.           

SB 0091 SupportAlcohol Sales - Permit within 100 yards of K-12 School Harper, Tyler 7th
3/13/2015 Senate Third Read Lost -RI&Util -
Alcohol/Tobacco General County Government Todd Edwards
This legislation allows counties to permit grocery stores to sell beer and wine for off-premise consumption within 100 yards of a K-12 school building or school grounds.
SB 0103 SupportAlcohol - Counties Can Choose to Sell Early on Sunday Jackson, Lester 2nd
3/13/2015 Senate Date Signed by Governor RegI I COOP -
Alcohol/Tobacco General County Government Todd Edwards
This legislation allows counties to authorize the sale of alcohol, through the adoption of a resolution or ordinance, on one selected Sunday per year from 12:30 p.m. through midnight.
SB 0153 NeutralLiquor - Bars May Purchase from Grocery Stores, Not Going through Distributor Ginn, Frank 47th
2/23/2015 Senate Read and Referred -RI&Util -
Alcohol/Tobacco General County Government Todd Edwards

This legislation allows those with a license to sell alcoholic beverages by the drink may also purchase beer, wine and liquor in the jurisdiction that they are licensed.  For example, if a bar runs out of a particular beverage, it can purchase said beverage from a grocery store without going through a distributor.       

SB 0174 NeutralAlcoholic Beverages; operation of company stores by distillers/brewers public can purchase limited quantities; limited conditions Ginn, Frank 47th
2/26/2015 Senate Read and Referred -RI&Util -
Alcohol/Tobacco General County Government Revenue & Finance Todd Edwards
This legislation allows distillers and brewers to sell a limited quantity of their product to the public at their company store.
SB 0244 SupportDistilled Spirits - Facilitate Going from a Dry to Wet County Jones, Burt 25th
3/27/2015 Senate Read and Referred -RI&Util -
Alcohol/Tobacco Elections General County Government Todd Edwards
Currently, in order to allow the sale of distilled spirits in a county, the Board of Commissioners must authorize/initiate, then a petition must be signed by at least 35% of registered voters, and then a referendum must be passed by voters. This legislation allows the county or the voters to initiate a referendum authorizing, or prohibiting, the manufacture or sale of distilled spirits without having to go through the 35% petition process.    
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.








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