APPROVED CHAPTER
APRIL 16, 2024 633
BY GOVERNOR PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR
_____
S.P. 870 - L.D. 2069
An Act to Amend the Ownership Disclosure Requirements for Applicants for
Liquor Licenses and Certificates of Approval
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 28-A MRSA §651, sub-§2, ¶A, as amended by PL 2021, c. 658, §92, is
repealed and the following enacted in its place:
A. An applicant shall disclose any person that holds an ownership interest equal to or
greater than 10% in the person for which a license or certificate of approval is sought.
If the applicant is a purchaser by contract, the applicant shall also disclose the terms of
the contract.
(1) For any person that holds an ownership interest equal to or greater than 10%
in the person for which a license or certificate of approval is sought and is a
business entity, the applicant shall disclose any person that holds an ownership
interest in that business entity that holds an ownership interest equal to or greater
than 10% in the person for which a license or certificate of approval is sought.
(2) For any person that holds an ownership interest equal to or greater than 10%
in the person for which a license or certificate of approval is sought and is a
business entity, the applicant may attest to the bureau by affidavit that no person
that holds an ownership interest in that business entity holds an ownership interest
equal to or greater than 10% in the person for which a license or certificate of
approval is sought.
Sec. 2. 28-A MRSA §651, sub-§2, ¶A-1 is enacted to read:
A-1. An applicant shall disclose any person that holds an indirect financial interest in
the person for which a license or certificate of approval is sought. For the purposes of
this paragraph, "indirect financial interest" means:
(1) An option, warrant or other right to acquire an equity interest in the person for
which a license or certificate of approval is sought; or
(2) A right to payment of, or a right to payment based upon, all or any portion of
revenues, profits or losses derived from the operations under a license or certificate
of approval issued under this Title of the person for which a license or certificate
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 of approval is sought, including, but not limited to, profit sharing, revenue sharing
or royalty payments.
Sec. 3. 28-A MRSA §651, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2021, c. 658, §92, is further
amended to read:
3. False answer given intentionally. An applicant may not attempt to conceal or
disguise ownership interest or indirect financial interest in the person for which a license
or certificate of approval is sought. A person who intentionally gives an untruthful answer
in an application for a license or certificate of approval under this Title violates Title 17‑A,
section 453. As used in this subsection, "indirect financial interest" has the same meaning
as in subsection 2, paragraph A-1.
Sec. 4. 28-A MRSA §651, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4. Rulemaking. The bureau may adopt routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5,
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to administer this section.
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Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 2069, SP 870: 28-A.651
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 633: 28-A.651