Substitute House Bill No. 5223 establishes a task force to study issues related to grocery store beer permits. The task force will examine the feasibility of implementing a per capita cap on the number of grocery store beer permits issued within municipalities and the criteria for assessing eligibility for these permits. The task force will consist of various members appointed by legislative leaders and the Governor, including representatives from the General Assembly and the Commissioner of Consumer Protection. Initial appointments must be made within thirty days of the bill's passage, and the task force is required to submit a report with findings and recommendations by January 1, 2027.

The bill includes new legal language that establishes the task force as a new section of law, with no deletions from current law. The task force will be supported administratively by the staff of the joint standing committee on consumer protection, and it will terminate upon submitting its report or on January 1, 2027, whichever is later. The fiscal impact of the bill is noted to be none for both the state and municipalities, as the task force is expected to operate within existing expertise without incurring additional costs.