HB975
Alcoholic beverage control; food-to-beverage ratio, report.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Chief Patron:
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Alcoholic beverage control; food-to-beverage ratio; report.
Reduces the current 45 percent food-to-beverage ratio for certain mixed beverage licensees. The bill requires that a mixed beverage restaurant, caterer's, or limited caterer's licensee meet or exceed the following: (i) for such licensees with monthly food sales averaging at least $48,000, the food-to-beverage ratio shall not apply; (ii) for ... (More) such licensees with monthly food sales averaging at least $25,000 but less than $48,000, the food-to-beverage ratio shall meet or exceed 30 percent; and (iii) for such licensees with monthly food sales averaging at least $4,000, but less than $25,000, the food-to-beverage ratio shall meet or exceed 45 percent, except that for any licensee with monthly food sales averaging less than $25,000 with a seating capacity of less than 30 seats and an occupancy permit for less than 60 people total, the food-to-beverage ratio shall meet or exceed 30 percent. The bill also requires that restaurants have at least as many seats at tables as at counters. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/13/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103975D
- 01/13/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on General Laws
- 01/26/2026 - House: Assigned HGL sub: ABC/Gaming
- 02/01/2026 - House: House subcommittee offered
- 02/02/2026 - House: Placed on General Laws Agenda
- 02/03/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 3-N)
- 02/04/2026 - House: Placed on General Laws Agenda
- 02/05/2026 - House: Reported from General Laws with amendment(s) (18-Y 3-N)
- 02/09/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/10/2026 - House: Passed by for the day
- 02/11/2026 - House: Read second time
- 02/11/2026 - House: committee amendment agreed to
- 02/11/2026 - House: Engrossed by House as amended
- 02/11/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB975)
- 02/12/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (87-Y 10-N 0-A)
- 02/13/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB975)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services
- 02/20/2026 - Senate: Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services (13-Y 2-N)
- 02/23/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/23/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/23/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 02/24/2026 - Senate: Read third time
- 02/24/2026 - Senate: Passed Senate (36-Y 3-N 0-A)
- 02/24/2026 - Senate: Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/24/2026 - Senate: Passed Senate (35-Y 4-N 0-A)
- 02/26/2026 - House: Enrolled
- 02/26/2026 - House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB975ER)
- 02/26/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB975)
- 02/26/2026 - House: Signed by Speaker
- 02/26/2026 - Senate: Signed by President
- 03/10/2026 - House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
- 03/10/2026 - Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
