An Act to Amend the Ownership Disclosure Requirements for Applicants for Liquor Licenses and Certificates of Approval
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2069
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: HICKMAN
Amends: 28-A MRSA §651

Legislative Document
No. 2069
S.P. 870
In Senate, December 22, 2023
An Act to Amend the Ownership Disclosure Requirements for 
Applicants for Liquor Licenses and Certificates of Approval
Submitted by the Department of Administrative and Financial Services pursuant to Joint 
Rule 203.
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 20, 2023.  Referred to the Committee 
on Veterans and Legal Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  28-A MRSA §651, sub-§2, ¶A, as amended by PL 2021, c. 658, §92, is 
repealed and the following enacted in its place:
A.  An applicant shall disclose all ownership interests by a person other than the 
applicant equal to or greater than 5% or any direct or indirect interest in the person for 
which a license or certificate of approval is sought.  If the applicant is a purchaser by 
contract, the applicant shall also disclose the terms of the contract.
(1) A business entity that has an ownership interest of 5% or greater in the person 
for which a license or certificate of approval is sought shall disclose all subsidiary 
business entities and all individuals that have an ownership interest in that business 
entity.  
(2) A business entity that has an ownership interest of 5% or greater in the person 
for which a license or certificate of approval is sought may attest to the bureau via 
affidavit that no subsidiary business entity or individual with an ownership interest 
in the business entity has an ownership interest of 5% or greater in the person for 
which a license or certificate of approval is sought.
For purposes of this paragraph, "interest" means full or partial equity ownership interest 
or any other type of financial interest or involvement including, but not limited to, 
being an investor or serving in a management position.
Sec. 2.  28-A MRSA §651, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2021, c. 658, §92, is further 
amended to read:
3.  False answer given intentionally.  An applicant may not attempt to conceal or 
disguise ownership interest or direct or indirect interest in the person for which a license or 
certificate of approval is sought. A person who intentionally gives an untruthful answer in 
an application for a license or certificate of approval under this Title violates Title 17‑A, 
section 453. As used in this subsection, "interest" has the same meaning as in subsection 2, 
paragraph A.
Sec. 3.  28-A MRSA §651, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4.  Rulemaking.  The bureau may adopt routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to administer this section. 
SUMMARY
This bill amends the ownership disclosure requirements for applicants for liquor 
licenses and certificates of approval to:
1.  Only require disclosure of ownership interest of 5% or greater in the person for 
which a license or certificate of approval is sought;
2.  Require a business entity that has an ownership interest of 5% or greater in a person 
for which a license or certificate of approval is sought to disclose all subsidiary business 
entities within that business entity and individuals with an ownership interest in the 
business entity; and
3.  Allow business entities with an ownership interest of 5% or greater in the person 
for which a license or certificate of approval is sought to attest via affidavit that no 
subsidiary business entity or individual with ownership interest in the business entity has 
an ownership interest of 5% or greater in the person for which a license or certificate of 
approval is sought.
The bill also permits the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau 
of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations to adopt routine technical rules if needed 
to administer the application procedure for a license or certificate of approval.