An Act to Clarify
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 2155
Committee Amendment CA_A_S553 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "/ " to S.P. 874, L.D. 2155, "An Act to Clarify
Certain Laws Governing Licenses for the Sale of Liquor by Manufacturers "
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'An Act to Direct the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations to
Temporarily Suspend Enforcement of Public Law 2025, Chapter 87'
Amend the bill in the emergency preamble by striking out all of the 3rd and 4th
indeated paragraphs (page 1, lines 6 to 15 in L.D.) and inserting the following;
'Whereas, several persons that hold a majority ownership interest in liquor
manufacturers that were licensed prior to the passage of the legislation limiting the number
of on-premises retail liquor licenses in which a person may hold no less than a majority
ownership interest are now in violation of the law; and
Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect as soon as possible to provide a
reasonable and clear time frame for these persons to come into compliance; and'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the
emergency clause and inserting the following;
'See. 1. Temporary suspension of enforcement of limits on number of on-
premises retail liquor licenses liquor manufacturers may hold. Notwithstanding
any provision of law to the contrary, for a period of 24 months beginning on the effective
date of this Act, the Director of the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations
within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services may not suspend, revoke
or refuse to renew a license issued under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 28-A, section
1355-A or Title 28-A, chapter 43 that was initially issued prior to May 23, 2025 solely on
the basis that a person holding a majority ownership interest in the licensed manufacturing
facility was determined by the bureau after the license was initially issued to hold a majority
ownership interest in more than the allowable number, under Title 28-A, section 1355-A,
subsection 2, paragraph I, of on-premises retail licenses issued under Title 28-A, chapter
43.'
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
^
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "^ " to S,P, 874, L.D. 2155 ( 5\
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill and changes the title. The amendment provides that
the Director of the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations within the
Department of Administrative and Financial Services may not, for a period of 24 months
beginning on the effective date of this legislation, suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a
manufacturing facility license or an on-premises retail license issued to a manufacturing
licensee that was issued prior to May 23, 2025 solely on the basis that a person holding a
majority ownership interest in the licensed manufacturing facility was determined by the
bureau after the license was initially issued to hold a majority ownership interest in more
than the allowable number of on-premises retail licenses that may be issued per licensed
manufacturing facility.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
Page2-132LR2942(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 03/04/26 ^KL-
LD 2155 LR 2942(02)
An Act to Clarify Certain Laws Governing Licenses for the Sale of Liquor by Manufacturers
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "/['/,$
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase" General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Any additional costs to the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations within the Department of
Administrative aad Financial Services to implement the provisions of this bill are expected to be minor and can be
absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR2942(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1