House Bill No. 5425, also known as Public Act No. 25-40, amends the regulations surrounding cafe permits for the sale of alcoholic liquor. The bill repeals the existing subsection (a) of section 30-22a and introduces new provisions effective July 1, 2025. Under the new law, cafe permit holders must keep food available for sale during most of their operating hours, but they can meet this requirement by allowing food deliveries from nearby vendors. The bill clarifies that there is no obligation to sell food with alcoholic beverages, nor will there be any enforced standards regarding the proportion of food sales to alcohol sales. Additionally, the bill allows for the serving of alcoholic liquor in outside areas, with certain conditions regarding fencing and health regulations.

Significantly, the bill introduces a tiered fee structure for cafe permits, where the annual fee will be $2,000, but prior holders of tavern permits will pay reduced fees for the first three years, and a new category for railways will have a permit fee of only $200. This change aims to facilitate the sale of alcoholic beverages in cafes and railways while ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 30-1, 30-12, 30-38, 30-45, 30-53, 30-54
GL Joint Favorable: 30-1, 30-12, 30-38, 30-45, 30-53, 30-54
File No. 300: 30-1, 30-12, 30-38, 30-45, 30-53, 30-54