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AB-2731 • 2026

Alcoholic beverage control: neighborhood-restricted on-sale general licenses.

Alcoholic beverage control: neighborhood-restricted on-sale general licenses.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Addis
Last action
2026-04-23
Official status
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how many licenses have already been issued in Santa Cruz County.

Alcoholic Beverage Control: Licenses for Restaurants in Santa Cruz

This law allows the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to issue up to 12 new special licenses each year to restaurants in specific areas of Santa Cruz County, until a total of 12 licenses have been given out.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to give no more than 12 new original neighborhood-restricted special on-sale general licenses to bona fide public eating places located in specified census tracts in Santa Cruz County per year until a total of 12 new licenses have been issued.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Restaurants in specific areas of Santa Cruz County
  • The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control

Terms To Know

neighborhood-restricted special on-sale general licenses
Special permits that allow restaurants to sell alcohol, but only within certain neighborhoods.
bona fide public eating places
Restaurants or other dining establishments that are open to the public and serve food.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law applies only to specific census tracts in Santa Cruz County.
  • It is unclear how many licenses have already been issued in these areas.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-23 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  2. 2026-04-22 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 22).

  3. 2026-04-15 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  4. 2026-04-14 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended.

  5. 2026-04-13 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 19. Noes 0.) (April 8).

  6. 2026-03-23 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on G.O.

  7. 2026-03-19 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on G.O. Read second time and amended.

  8. 2026-03-19 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on G.O.

  9. 2026-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  10. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2731, as amended, Addis.
Alcoholic beverage control: neighborhood-restricted on-sale general licenses.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, administered by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, regulates the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages and the granting of licenses for the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages within the state for which various fees are charged depending upon the type of license issued. The act provides for a limitation on the amount of on-sale general licenses that may be issued by the department based on the population of the county in which the licensed premises are located, as provided.
Existing law authorizes the department to issue no more than 12 new original neighborhood-restricted special on-sale general licenses to bona fide public eating places located in specified census tracts in the County of Los Angeles per year beginning on January 1, 2026, until a total of 40 new
licenses have been issued, as specified.
This bill would similarly authorize the department to issue no more than
12 total
5
new original neighborhood-restricted special on-sale general licenses to bona fide public eating places located in specified census tracts in the County of Santa
Cruz,
Cruz per year until a total of 12 new licenses have been issued,
as specified.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Santa Cruz.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF