Rep. Stutes presses bill to let patriotic organizations serve alcohol at permitted events; committee sets amendment deadline

Representative Sarah Stutes presented House Bill 363 on March 17 before the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, telling the committee the measure "allows patriotic organizations to serve alcoholic beverages to members" and also permits such groups, when operating under the proper permit, to serve liquor, wine and beer during permitted events.

The bill, described by Stutes as "quite simple," would extend service options for organizations that do not hold a club license under Title 4. Stutes, who represents District 5 (Kodiak, Cordova, Seward and nearby coastal communities), said the bill "does just those two things" and invited questions and clarifications from committee members.

Representative Ayesha Eisheide, the committee chair, noted Kevin Richard, director of the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office, was online and available to answer regulatory questions.

Representative Fields asked whether patriotic organizations could solicit public patronage for a public event. Jane Pearson, staff to the bill sponsor, responded that an existing prohibition—spoken in the hearing as "four-nine-two 20 I-one"—bars clubs from soliciting public patronage on club premises, and that the sponsor planned a clarifying amendment to address the issue. "That language would clarify that it's on approval of the board or by operating under an appropriate permit," Pearson said. Stutes added that she expected the amendment would be brought forward.

Fields told the committee she had drafted an amendment to ensure organizations could "talk to the public" at public events. Chair Eisheide thanked staff and outlined next steps: the committee set an amendment filing deadline of 5 p.m. on March 18, 2026, and postponed further consideration of HB 363 until the committee reconvenes on Thursday, March 19. The committee opened public testimony but recorded no in-room or online speakers and closed the public comment period.

The committee adjourned at 10:24 a.m.