The bill proposes the repeal of Section 3-7-19 of the General Laws in Chapter 3-7, which currently restricts the issuance of Retailers’ Class B, C, N, and I licenses based on proximity to schools and places of worship. Specifically, it removes the prohibition on issuing these licenses within 200 feet of such institutions, as well as the extended 500-foot restriction in East Providence. The bill also eliminates various exemptions previously granted to specific municipalities, allowing local licensing boards to bypass these distance restrictions for certain locations. This change aims to provide greater flexibility for retail liquor establishments in their location choices.

In addition to repealing the distance restrictions, the bill removes the authority of local boards and councils to grant exemptions for proposed retailer Class B licenses in various cities and towns, including Providence, Newport, and Cranston. This standardization of the licensing process means that all future applications for these licenses will be subject to the same regulations without exception, potentially impacting local governments' ability to adapt to new retail opportunities. The overall effect of the bill is to streamline the licensing process for retail liquor establishments across the state, allowing for more uniformity in regulatory practices.

Statutes affected:
5449: 3-7-19