This bill amends the Nebraska Liquor Control Act to enhance the rights of holders of various licenses, including manufacturer, craft brewery, microdistillery, and entertainment district licenses. Key updates include increasing the number of retail locations a manufacturer can operate from five to eight, and allowing craft breweries and microdistilleries to have up to eight separate physical locations instead of five. The bill also introduces provisions for entertainment district licenses, which enable the sale of alcoholic beverages in designated commons areas, contingent upon the availability of food service and regulated consumption of alcohol. Additionally, it clarifies the definition of a "commons area," emphasizing pedestrian safety and prohibiting open alcoholic containers in certain locations.

The bill outlines the process for local governing bodies, such as cities, villages, or counties, to grant temporary expansions for licensed premises, requiring local consent for approval. It allows local governing bodies to establish specific criteria for these approvals and appoint agents to make determinations based on those criteria. The decision made by the local governing body is final, and if an applicant does not meet the qualifications for a temporary expansion, it will be denied. Upon approval, the local clerk is responsible for confirming the temporary expansion to the licensee after the payment of any applicable fees or taxes. The bill also includes a provision ensuring the validity of remaining sections if any part is declared invalid or unconstitutional, while repealing several existing sections of the Revised Statutes of Nebraska.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 53-123.01, 53-123.14, 53-123.16, 53-129
Final Reading: 53-123.01, 53-123.14, 53-123.16, 53-123.17, 53-129
Slip Law: 53-123.01, 53-123.14, 53-123.16, 53-123.17, 53-129