Subcommittee clears 40th/46th district liquor bill allowing nonprofit donations, license moves

The Alcoholic Beverage Subcommittee unanimously approved House Bill 998, a multipart measure affecting several license issues in the 40th and 46th districts.

Chair summarized the bill’s three main components: it would (1) create a nonprofit authority to accept donated alcohol for an event only if the event is held at the convention center; (2) revive a BD‑7 license at the 1600 block of Eastern Avenue and permit it to move to Aliceanda Street; and (3) allow Culinary Architecture, a business moving from the 40th to the 46th District, to retain its liquor license with the approval of the Little Italy Neighborhood Association.

A delegate asked for clarification that the nonprofit donation authority applies solely to events at the convention center; the chair confirmed that limitation. With no further substantive discussion, a motion to move the bill and a second were recorded and a roll-call vote adopted the bill unanimously (Delegates Addison, Boyce, Smith and Clippinger voted yes). The subcommittee forwarded HB 998 to the full Baltimore City delegation for the scheduled Friday hearing.

The bill’s provisions combine an event‑specific donation exception, a license revival and a district‑transfer for a private business; the subcommittee recorded no objections during the hearing.