In the near future I will be introducing legislation that would make our liquor laws more business friendly and consumer conscious.
 
Currently, licenses approved for intermunicipal transfer may not be transferred from the receiving municipality for a period of five years after the date that the licensed premises are operational in the receiving municipality. While intended to prevent abuse of the license transfer system, this can be problematic for businesses who are looking to move to a different location that is better suited to their growing business.
 
Recently constituents ran into this problem head on. A few years ago, they purchased a local caf  and were later able to purchase a liquor license. They have since had tremendous success and found a new location in another municipality that would allow them to expand and would accommodate their growing business. Unfortunately, they cannot transfer their liquor license to this new location until this five-year period has passed, which presents a significant obstacle to their continued success and growth.    
 
My legislation would provide for a one-time exemption to this current rule and allow a license to be transferred to a location in a new municipality within the five-year period so long as the ownership of the license remains unchanged and the new receiving municipality approves the transfer.
 
Many of our liquor licenses are held by businesses that are integral parts of our communities. We need liquor laws that work for our bars, restaurants, clubs and other license holders, not against them.
 
Please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation.