The state House of Representatives recently advanced a bill authored by Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Franklin/Fulton), which would allow for ballot referendums to authorize “dry” municipalities to issue special liquor licenses to manufacturers.
Recently passed updates to liquor laws allow exemptions to authorize specific licenses in dry townships.
“After seeing an increase of establishments operating in dry municipalities through this loophole, I authored legislation to create a ballot initiative for such municipalities to explicitly opt-in or opt-out of allowing on-premise sales for manufacturers,” Topper said.
The legislation, House Bill 423, would create a referendum to give voters a choice in whether their municipality stays completely dry, allows limited sales or converts to wet.
The bill now heads to the Senate for further consideration.