House Bill No. 5425 seeks to amend existing laws regarding alcoholic beverages in Connecticut, particularly focusing on heritage railways. The bill proposes the repeal of Section 30-1 of the general statutes, replacing it with updated definitions, including the introduction of "heritage railway," which emphasizes historical preservation and tourism. It also modifies existing definitions related to alcoholic beverages, including the deletion of certain subdivisions and the insertion of new terms such as "mead." The bill establishes a new short-term heritage railway café permit, allowing the sale and public consumption of alcoholic liquor on passenger trains operated by heritage railways, valid for six months and available to corporations for a fee of $100, which can be converted to an annual permit under specific conditions.

In addition to the new permit, the bill makes several amendments to existing liquor permit regulations, including the definition and requirements for cafes, which must provide food for sale during most operating hours. It expands the definition of "cafe" to include various establishments and clarifies the management structure for golf country clubs. The bill also updates the application process for liquor permits, requiring detailed descriptions of live entertainment and modifying fee structures. Notably, it repeals and replaces certain sections of the general statutes to ensure compliance with the new regulations, while also clarifying the categories of individuals prohibited from obtaining permits. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025, allowing stakeholders time to adapt to the new framework.

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