Votes at a glance: Delegation approves three Prince George's alcoholic-beverage bills

The Prince George's County House delegation's subcommittee approved three local alcoholic-beverage bills during its Feb. 13 meeting.

HB583 (PG 319-26) updates notification language used by the board of licensed commissioners when issuing a class C per diem beer, wine and liquor license to reflect a county agency name change (from "Department of Environmental Resources" to the Department of Permitting, Inspection and Enforcement, DPIE). The subcommittee voted the bill favorably; the chair recorded the outcome as "bill passes" with 18 votes.

HB582 (Prince George's County alcoholic-beverage licenses; voter-registration requirement) repeals a county-level condition that some applicants or signatories be registered voters when applying for certain alcoholic-beverage licenses. Delegates said the change allows legal residents who are not registered voters to apply for class C and certain resident licenses; the committee recorded the motion as passed favorably with 17 votes.

HB588 (PG 316, wine-festival licenses) removes a restriction that limited the county to one wine-festival license per year and that prohibited such licenses in the 24th legislative district. Delegates noted existing licensing discretion and event-timing parameters remain; the bill passed with a recorded 19 votes.

Votes and procedure: For each bill the chair called for a motion and second, committee staff called the roll, and the delegation recorded the favorable outcomes and vote tallies as cited above. The subcommittee did not debate amendments on these bills during the Feb. 13 session. Delegates said they would circulate related materials and scheduling information for additional hearings when needed.

Next steps: The chair announced a late-file bill hearing scheduled for Monday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. and said the delegation web page will carry a YouTube link for viewing and testimony sign-up information.