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HOUSE BILL NO. 155
IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION
BY REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER
Introduced: 3/26/25
Referred: Community and Regional Affairs, Labor and Commerce
A BILL
FOR AN ACT ENTITLED
"An Act relating to alcohol; relating to local option elections; relating to the statewide 1
database of alcohol purchases; relating to alcohol licenses, endorsements, and permits; 2
relating to municipal regulation and taxation of alcoholic beverages; and providing for 3
an effective date." 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 5
* Section 1. AS 04.06.095(a) is amended to read: 6
(a) The board, after consulting with package store licensees, shall create and 7
maintain a statewide database that contains a monthly record of the alcohol purchased 8
by, and shipped to, a person who resides in a municipality or established village that 9
has restricted the sale of alcoholic beverages under AS 04.11.491(a)(1), (2), [OR] (3), 10
or (6) or (b)(1) or (2). 11
* Sec. 2. AS 04.09.460(c) is amended to read: 12
(c) An endorsement holder may ship alcoholic beverages only to the purchaser 13
and may ship alcoholic beverages only in response to an order. The endorsement 14
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holder may not, in response to an order, ship alcohol to a purchaser at an address other 1
than the address where the purchaser resides or, if the purchaser resides in a 2
municipality or established village that has adopted a local option under 3
AS 04.11.491(a)(1), (2), [OR] (3), or (6) or (b)(1) or (2) for which a community 4
delivery site has been designated under AS 04.11.491(f), to an address other than that 5
community delivery site except as provided by AS 04.11.491(f)(1) and (2). 6
* Sec. 3. AS 04.09.460(e) is amended to read: 7
(e) If a shipment is to an area that has restricted the sale of alcoholic beverages 8
under AS 04.11.491(a)(1), (2), [OR] (3), or (6) or (b)(1) or (2), an endorsement holder 9
may not ship to a purchaser more than 10.5 liters of distilled spirits or 24 liters or more 10
of wine, or either a half-barrel keg of brewed beverages or 12 gallons or more of 11
brewed beverages in individual containers in a calendar month, or a lower amount of 12
distilled spirits, wine, or brewed beverages if the municipality or established village 13
has adopted the lower amount by local option under AS 04.11.491(g). Before shipping 14
alcohol to a purchaser in a restricted area, an endorsement holder shall consult the 15
database maintained by the board under AS 04.06.095 for any alcoholic beverage 16
shipments made to the purchaser during that calendar month by a package store. An 17
endorsement holder may not ship an amount of alcoholic beverages to a purchaser in a 18
restricted area that, when added to the amount already shipped, exceeds the amount 19
authorized by this subsection. An endorsement holder shall immediately enter into the 20
database the date and the amount of alcoholic beverages shipped to the purchaser. 21
* Sec. 4. AS 04.11.010(b) is amended to read: 22
(b) Except as provided in this subsection, a person may not solicit or receive 23
orders for the delivery of an alcoholic beverage in an area that has adopted a local 24
option under AS 04.11.491. If the area has adopted a local option under 25
AS 04.11.491(a)(1), (2), [OR] (3), or (6) or (b)(1) or (2), a package store licensee 26
outside of that local option area may receive orders as provided under a package store 27
shipping endorsement under AS 04.09.460 but may not solicit in that area or receive 28
orders through an agent or employee in that area. This subsection does not apply to a 29
package store licensee who operates a package store in an area that has adopted a local 30
option under AS 04.11.491(a)(2)(C), [OR] (3)(C), or (6)(C) or (b)(2)(C). A person 31
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who violates this subsection is punishable upon conviction as provided under 1
AS 04.16.200(a) or (b). 2
* Sec. 5. AS 04.11.320(a) is amended to read: 3
(a) An application requesting issuance of a new license or endorsement shall 4
be denied if 5
(1) the board finds, after review of all relevant information, that 6
issuance of the license or endorsement would not be in the best interests of the public; 7
(2) issuance of the license is prohibited by AS 04.11.410, relating to 8
location of premises near churches and schools; 9
(3) the application has not been completed in accordance with 10
AS 04.11.260; 11
(4) issuance of the license or endorsement would violate the 12
restrictions pertaining to the particular license or endorsement imposed under this title; 13
(5) issuance of the license is prohibited under this title as a result of an 14
election conducted under AS 04.11.507; 15
(6) the requirements of AS 04.11.420 - 04.11.450 relating to zoning, 16
ownership and location of the license, and the identity and financing of a licensee have 17
not been met or the requirements of AS 04.11.430(b) relating to location of the 18
endorsement have not been met; 19
(7) issuance of the license is prohibited under AS 04.11.400(a) or 20
prohibition of issuance of the license is found necessary under AS 04.11.400(b); 21
(8) the application contains false statements of material fact; 22
(9) the license is sought for the sale of alcoholic beverages in a first or 23
second class city where there are no licensed premises at the time of application unless 24
a majority of the voters have voted not to approve a local option to restrict or prohibit 25
the sale of alcoholic beverages under AS 04.11.491, have voted to approve a local 26
option to allow the type of premises under AS 04.11.491(a)(2), [OR] (3), or (6), or 27
have voted to remove a restriction or prohibition on the sale of alcoholic beverages 28
under AS 04.11.495; or 29
(10) the license is sought for the sale of alcoholic beverages in an 30
established village where there are no licensed premises at the time of application 31
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unless a majority of the voters have voted not to approve a local option to restrict or 1
prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages under AS 04.11.491, have voted to approve a 2
local option to allow the type of premises under AS 04.11.491(b)(2), or have voted to 3
remove a restriction or prohibition on the sale of alcoholic beverages under 4
AS 04.11.495. 5
* Sec. 6. AS 04.11.320(b) is amended to read: 6
(b) An application requesting issuance of a new permit shall be denied if 7
(1) the board finds, after review of all relevant information, that 8
issuance of the permit would not be in the best interests of the public; 9
(2) the board finds that any of the statements made in the application 10
are untrue; 11
(3) the application has not been completed in accordance with 12
AS 04.11.260; or 13
(4) the permit is sought for the sale of alcoholic beverages in a first or 14
second class city or established village where there are no licensed premises at the 15
time of application unless a majority of the voters have voted not to approve a local 16
option to restrict or prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages under AS 04.11.491, have 17
voted to approve a local option to allow the type of permit under AS 04.11.491(a)(2) 18
or (6) or (b)(2), or have voted to remove a restriction or prohibition on the sale of 19
alcoholic beverages under AS 04.11.495. 20
* Sec. 7. AS 04.11.491(a) is amended to read: 21
(a) If a majority of the persons voting on the question vote to approve the 22
option, a municipality shall adopt a local option to prohibit 23
(1) the sale of alcoholic beverages; 24
(2) the sale of alcoholic beverages except by one or more of the 25
following listed on the ballot: 26
(A) a restaurant or eating place licensee; 27
(B) a beverage dispensary licensee; 28
(C) a package store licensee; 29
(D) a caterer holding a beverage dispensary caterer's permit 30
under AS 04.09.610 to sell alcoholic beverages at a site within the municipality 31
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who is also licensed under a beverage dispensary license for premises outside 1
of the municipality; 2
(E) a winery manufacturer licensee; 3
(F) a winery manufacturer licensee, except that sales may occur 4
only to a person licensed under this title or in another state or country; 5
(G) an outdoor recreation lodge licensee; or 6
(H) a package store licensee limited to selling only beer and 7
wine; 8
(3) the sale of alcoholic beverages except on premises operated by the 9
municipality and under a type of licensed premises listed on the ballot, that may 10
include one or more of the following: 11
(A) a restaurant or eating place license; 12
(B) a beverage dispensary license; or 13
(C) a package store license; 14
(4) the sale and importation of alcoholic beverages; [OR] 15
(5) the sale, importation, and possession of alcoholic beverages; or 16
(6) the sale of alcoholic beverages except by one or more of the 17
following listed on the ballot: 18
(A) a restaurant or eating place licensee; 19
(B) a beverage dispensary licensee; 20
(C) a package store licensee on premises operated by the 21
municipality. 22
* Sec. 8. AS 04.11.491(d) is amended to read: 23
(d) The ballot for an election on the option set out in (a)(2)(A), (a)(3)(A), or 24
(b)(2)(A) of this section must include a summary explanation of the authority to sell 25
alcoholic beverages given to a restaurant or eating place under AS 04.09.210(a). The 26
ballot for an election on the option set out in (a)(2)(B) or (D), (a)(3)(B), or (b)(2)(B) or 27
(D) of this section must include a statement that a beverage dispensary license is 28
commonly known as a "bar" and a summary explanation of the authority to sell 29
alcoholic beverages given to a beverage dispensary licensee under AS 04.09.200. The 30
ballot for an election on the option set out in (a)(2)(C), (a)(3)(C), (a)(6)(C), or 31
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(b)(2)(C) of this section must include a statement that a package store license is 1
commonly known as a "liquor store" and a summary explanation of the authority to 2
sell alcoholic beverages given to a package store licensee under AS 04.09.230. 3
* Sec. 9. AS 04.11.491(f) is amended to read: 4
(f) A municipality or established village that has adopted a local option under 5
(a)(1), (2), [OR] (3), or (6) or (b)(1) or (2) of this section may designate a site for the 6
delivery of alcoholic beverages to individuals in the area or a site for a person to bring 7
alcoholic beverages if the alcoholic beverages are imported into the area. This 8
subsection does not apply to the delivery or importation of 9
(1) one liter or less of distilled spirits, two liters or less of wine, or one 10
gallon or less of malt beverages; or 11
(2) alcoholic beverages to a premises licensed under (a)(2), (3), or (6) 12
[(a)(2) - (3)] or (b)(2) of this section. 13
* Sec. 10. AS 04.11.491(g) is amended to read: 14
(g) If a municipality or established village has adopted a local option under 15
(a)(1), (2), (3), [OR] (4), or (6) or (b)(1), (2), or (3) of this section, the municipality or 16
established village, as part of the local option question or questions placed before the 17
voters, may 18
(1) adopt an amount of alcoholic beverages that may be imported that 19
is less than the amounts set out in AS 04.09.460(e); 20
(2) adopt an amount of alcoholic beverages that would give rise to a 21
presumption that the person possessed the alcoholic beverages for sale; the amounts 22
adopted under this paragraph may be lower than those set out in AS 04.11.010(c); 23
(3) opt to not apply a class C felony to violations of AS 04.16.051 that 24
apply solely by reason of the municipality or established village adopting a local 25
option under this section. 26
* Sec. 11. AS 04.11.503 is amended to read: 27
Sec. 04.11.503. Effect on licenses of restriction on sale. If a majority of the 28
voters vote under AS 04.11.491(a)(2) or (6) or (b)(2) to prohibit sale of alcoholic 29
beverages except by the type or types of licensees or permit holders listed on the 30
ballot, the board may not issue, renew, or transfer between persons or locations a 31
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license for premises located within the boundaries of the municipality and in 1
unincorporated areas within five miles of the boundaries of the municipality or within 2
the perimeter of the established village, except the type or types of licenses listed on 3
the ballot. A license in effect within the boundaries of the municipality or perimeter of 4
the established village, and in unincorporated areas within five miles of the boundaries 5
of the municipality, except the type of license listed on the ballot, is void 90 days after 6
the results of the election are certified. A license that expires during the 90 days after 7
the results of a local option election are certified may be extended, until it is void 8
under this section, by payment of a prorated portion of the biennial license fee. 9
* Sec. 12. AS 04.11.505 is amended to read: 10
Sec. 04.11.505. Licensing after prohibition on sale except in premises 11
operated by municipality. (a) If a majority of the voters vote under 12
AS 04.11.491(a)(3) or (6) to prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages except on 13
premises operated by the municipality, the board may not issue, renew, or transfer 14
between persons or locations a license for premises located within the boundaries of a 15
municipality and in unincorporated areas within five miles of the boundaries of the 16
municipality, with the exception of the type of license listed on the ballot and operated 17
under a license held by the municipality. A license in effect is void 90 days after the 18
results of the election are certified. A license that expires during the 90 days after the 19
results of a local option election are certified may be extended, until it is void under 20
this subsection, by payment of a prorated portion of the biennial license fee. 21
(b) The local governing body of a municipality shall apply for a license to 22
operate the type of licensed premises listed on the ballot under AS 04.11.491(a)(3) or 23
(6)(C) and approved by a majority of the voters. The municipality shall operate the 24
premises subject to the conditions and fees applicable to the type of license. Nothing 25
in this section precludes a municipality from applying to be a licensee under other 26
provisions of this title. 27
* Sec. 13. AS 04.21.010(a) is amended to read: 28
(a) A municipality may adopt ordinances governing the importation, barter, 29
sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages within the municipality and may ban 30
possession of alcoholic beverages under AS 04.11.491(a)(5). An ordinance adopted 31
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under this section may not be inconsistent with this title or regulations adopted under 1
this title. In a municipality that has adopted a local option under AS 04.11.491(a)(1), 2
(2), [OR] (3), or (6), an ordinance is not inconsistent with this title if it limits 3
(1) the monthly amounts of alcoholic beverages a person may import 4
into the municipality; 5
(2) the percent of alcohol by volume that an alcoholic beverage may 6
contain; a limit imposed under this paragraph may not be less than 40 nor more than 7
76 percent alcohol by volume; or 8
(3) the type of alcoholic beverage container that may be possessed in 9
the municipality. 10
* Sec. 14. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026. 11