Relates to off premise retail license holders

Latest action Apr 29, 2026

Relates to off premise retail license holders; increases the number of licenses authorized under section 63 of the alcoholic beverage control law from one to two licenses.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A8547, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law.

Committee

Commerce, Economic Development And Small Business · New York State Senate

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To allow any person to hold up to two off-premises retail licenses.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Commerce, Economic Development And Small Business
Senate Commerce, Economic Development And Small BusinessApr 29, 2026Result: passed
(9) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Commerce, Economic Development And Small Business
Senate Commerce, Economic Development And Small BusinessMay 28, 2025Result: passed
(9) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Al Taylor, Catalina Cruz and 10 more on Agora

Democratic12

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why James Skoufis says this is needed

Current law, enacted in 1934 post-prohibition, allowed for only one off-premise retail license to be granted to a person. There are no such restrictions on any other license in the alcoholic beverage control law, nor any such restriction anywhere in NY statute on any business. This restriction only exists for wine and spirit retailers. No restrictions exist on how many licenses a person may be granted to serve alcohol at bars or restaurants. Furthermore, even the State Cannabis Law allows a person to be granted up to 3 retail dispensary licenses. This nearly 100-year-old law is among the most antiquated in the country and unnecessarily restrictive on small businesses and economic develop- ment. This is why the 21-member Commission to Study Reform of the Alco- holic Beverage Control Law, which was established through the FY 2023 State The budget included the recommendation to change the statute to allow for more than one off-premise retail license to be granted to a licensee. This legislation embodies that recommendation put forward in the Commis- sion's final report, voted on by representatives from across the indus- try, including alcohol producers, wholesalers, on- and off-premises retailers, policymakers, regulators, and representatives, a much-needed change for a significant business sector in New York to survive and thrive in the 21st Century.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

Apr 29, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
NY Assembly
May 28, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
May 20, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
NY Assembly

Show full history (1 earlier event)

May 13, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 3, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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