House Bill No. introduced by L. Deming aims to revise the regulations surrounding restaurant beer and wine licenses in Montana. Key changes include increasing the required ratio of gross income from food sales from 65% to 70% for restaurants seeking a beer and wine license. Additionally, the bill allows licensees to determine their own hours of operation, provided they notify the Department of any changes. The bill also stipulates that beer and wine can be sold for off-premises consumption, but only if food is ordered, and the price of the alcohol does not exceed that of the food.

Further amendments clarify that restaurants must serve beer and wine to patrons who order food, and the sales must be reflected on the same bill. The bill also introduces a requirement for restaurants to provide their operating hours to the Department and obtain approval for any changes. Other provisions include adjustments to the competitive bidding process for licenses and the establishment of fees based on seating capacity. Overall, the bill seeks to modernize and streamline the licensing process while ensuring that food sales remain the primary source of income for licensed establishments.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 16-4-420, 16-4-422, 16-4-423
HB0315_1(1): 16-4-420, 16-4-422, 16-4-423
HB0315_1(2): 16-4-420, 16-4-422, 16-4-423
HB0315_1(3): 16-4-420, 16-4-422, 16-4-423
HB0315_1(4): 16-4-420, 16-4-422, 16-4-423
HB0315_1(5): 16-4-420, 16-4-422, 16-4-423
HB0315_1(6): 16-4-420, 16-4-422, 16-4-423
HB0315_1: 16-4-420, 16-4-422, 16-4-423