The bill amends Section 60-6B-12 of the New Mexico Statutes to revise the criteria for transferring certain liquor licenses. It allows dispenser's and retailer's licenses issued before July 1, 1981, to be transferred to any location within the state, with specific exceptions for certain counties and municipalities. The bill stipulates that no more than ten licenses may be transferred to any local option district in a calendar year and that these transfers will count towards the maximum number of licenses that can be issued in the future. Additionally, the transfer of a liquor license will become effective upon local governing body approval, unless a petition for an election is filed by registered voters.

Significant changes include the insertion of provisions that allow licenses transferred to a local option district with fewer than the maximum number of licenses to permit the sale of alcoholic beverages in unbroken packages, including locally produced growlers, for off-premises consumption. The bill also modifies the transfer conditions for rural licenses, allowing them to be transferred to local option districts within counties that have fewer than the maximum number of licenses, while removing previous restrictions on their transfer locations. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the process for liquor license transfers while ensuring compliance with existing regulations.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 60-6B-12