The Senate passed two liquor license bill supported by the League. The first bill, SB 1493, deals with redevelopment liquor licenses. It reduces the required minimum seating capacity of a business for it to obtain a redevelopment liquor license from 50 to 25. This was requested by a business that wants one of these redevelopment liquor licenses, and the League supported it in order to continue to create economic development in our communities.
The Senate also once again passed legislation allowing for the sale of liquor on Sundays. The Legislature passed this legislation a few weeks ago, but it was vetoed by the Governor because of additional provisions in the bill. The Senate today passed HB 6224, which will create new Sunday morning permits that businesses can purchase as part of their liquor license. The additional provisions from the previous version that the Governor opposed, though, were not included in this legislation. The permit will cost the business $160, and the proceeds from these permits will be deposited in the state general fund. The language also allows any county, city, village or township to prohibit Sunday morning sales by majority vote of the legislative body or by a majority of electors voting at a regular state election (after a petition is submitted by the voters). The League had previously worked with both the House and Senate on this language, and is supportive of the bill because it retains local control and provides the local unit of government with the ability to allow or deny these new Sunday morning permits. The bill passed the Senate and is expected to pass the House later tonight, then make its way to the Governor for her signature.
Andy Schor is the Assistant Director of State Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League. Contact him at (517) 908-0300 or by email at aschor@mml.org.
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