H.B. No. 3085 proposes amendments to the Alcoholic Beverage Code regarding local option elections for the sale of alcoholic beverages in certain municipalities. The bill modifies the criteria for municipalities eligible to hold such elections by removing the previous requirement of a population of 15,000 or more and instead introducing two new criteria: municipalities must either have a population of 240,000 or more and be located in two or more counties, or have a population of 15,000 or more and be located in a county with a population of 340,000 or more that borders the Gulf of Mexico.

Additionally, the bill allows the governing body of the municipality to adopt zoning and land use regulations for premises selling alcoholic beverages within designated zones, subject to local government code provisions. This new authority aims to provide municipalities with greater control over the regulation of alcohol sales in their areas. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Alcoholic Beverage Code 251.742 (Alcoholic Beverage Code 251)