130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2021
Legislative Document No. 378
S.P. 166 In Senate, February 10, 2021
An Act To Temporarily Waive Renewal Fees for On-premises Retail
Liquor Licenses
(EMERGENCY)
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on February 8, 2021. Referred to the Committee
on Veterans and Legal Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator LUCHINI of Hancock.
Cosponsored by Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford and
Senators: CURRY of Waldo, FARRIN of Somerset, President JACKSON of Aroostook,
Representatives: CAIAZZO of Scarborough, WILLIAMS of Bar Harbor.
Printed on recycled paper
 1 Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
2 become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
3 Whereas, the spread of the novel coronavirus disease referred to as COVID-19 has
4 created a public health emergency; and
5 Whereas, in response to the public health emergency, the Governor has issued
6 executive orders limiting the ability of restaurants and other businesses to sell liquor for
7 on-premises consumption; and
8 Whereas, the limitation on selling liquor for on-premises consumption has led to
9 decreased revenue for those businesses and a corresponding decreased ability to timely pay
10 license renewal fees; and
11 Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
12 the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
13 immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
14 therefore,
15 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
16 Sec. 1. One-time waiver of fee for license renewal. Notwithstanding any
17 provision of law to the contrary, an applicant for renewal of an on-premises retail license
18 issued by the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic
19 Beverages and Lottery Operations under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 28-A is not
20 required to pay a license renewal fee for that license in 2021.
21 Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
22 takes effect when approved.
23 SUMMARY
24 This bill temporarily exempts restaurants and other entities seeking renewal of a license
25 to sell beer, wine or spirits for on-premises consumption from any license renewal fee in
26 2021.
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