APPROVED CHAPTER
MARCH 19, 2024 550
BY GOVERNOR PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR
_____
S.P. 881 - L.D. 2088
An Act to Change the Number of Agency Liquor Stores Allowed in Certain
Municipalities and to Convene a Stakeholder Group Regarding Licensing
and Operations
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the Department of Administrative and Financial Affairs, Bureau of
Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations awards available agency liquor store licenses
twice a year, once in the fall before the holidays and ski season and once in the spring
before the summer tourism season; and
Whereas, the department has not yet opened the spring round of agency liquor store
license awards; and
Whereas, the changes in this legislation need to take effect before the next round of
awards so that municipalities affected by the changes may be awarded an additional agency
liquor store license prior to the busy summer tourism season; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 28-A MRSA §453, sub-§1-A, ¶E, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 74, §1, is
amended to read:
E. Seven agency liquor stores in a municipality with a population over 15,000 10,000
but less than 20,001;
Sec. 2. 28-A MRSA §453, sub-§1-A, ¶F, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 74, §1, is
repealed.
Sec. 3. 28-A MRSA §453, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 2021, c. 172, §1, is further
amended by amending the first blocked paragraph to read:
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The bureau may issue one additional agency liquor store license beyond those otherwise
authorized by this subsection in a any municipality with a population of less than 10,000.
The bureau may consider the impact of seasonal population or tourism and other related
any information provided by the municipality requesting an additional agency liquor store
license.
Sec. 4. Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of
Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations to convene stakeholder group
regarding licensing and operation of agency liquor stores. The Department of
Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery
Operations shall convene a stakeholder group to examine how agency liquor stores, as
defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 28-A, section 2, subsection 1, are licensed and
operated in order to better understand how agency liquor stores are distributed throughout
the State and to evaluate the effectiveness of the current system for consumers, the general
public, local law enforcement officials, municipalities, the State and entities licensed in this
State for the sale of liquor. The stakeholder group must include, at a minimum,
representatives of agency liquor stores, on-premises retail licensees as defined in Title
28-A, section 2, subsection 27, paragraph B, off-premises retail licensees as defined in Title
28-A, section 2, subsection 27, paragraph A, certificate of approval holders under Title
28-A, sections 1361 and 1381 and in-state manufacturers licensed under Title 28-A, section
1355-A; wholesale licensees as defined in Title 28-A, section 2, subsection 34; municipal
representatives; and local law enforcement officials. No later than November 6, 2024, the
bureau shall submit a report summarizing any conclusions reached and proposals supported
by the stakeholder group, which may include suggested legislation, to the joint standing
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over alcoholic beverages matters. The
committee may submit legislation related to the report to the 132nd Legislature in 2025.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
takes effect when approved.
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Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 2088, SP 881: 28-A.453
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 550: 28-A.453