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sSB230 / File No. 173 1
General Assembly File No. 173
February Session, 2026 Substitute Senate Bill No. 230
Senate, March 25, 2026
The Committee on General Law reported through SEN.
MARONEY of the 14th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on
the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER
PROTECTION'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING LIQUOR
CONTROL.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 30 -18a of the 2026 supplement to the general 1
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 2
(Effective from passage): 3
(a) As used in this section: 4
(1) "Out-of-state" (A) means (i) any state other than Connecticut, (ii) 5
any territory or possession of the United States, (iii) the District of 6
Columbia, or (iv) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and (B) does not 7
include any foreign country; 8
(2) "Retailer" means any business entity that (A) is primarily engaged 9
in selling alcoholic liquor in sealed bottles or other containers for off -10
premises consumption, and (B) holds a retailer permit issued by the 11
alcohol beverage authority of its home state; and 12
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(3) "Wine" includes, but is not limited to, (A) cider not exceeding six 13
per cent alcohol by volume, and (B) apple wine not exceeding fifteen per 14
cent alcohol by volume. 15
[(a)] (b) (1) An out -of-state winery shipper's permit for wine shall 16
allow the sale of wine to manufacturer and wholesaler permittees in this 17
state as permitted by law and for those shippers that produce not more 18
than one hundred thousand gallons of wine per year, the sale and 19
shipment by the holder thereof to a retailer of wine manufactured by 20
such permittee in the original sealed containers of not more than fifteen 21
gallons per container. [For purposes of this section, "wine" shall include 22
cider not exceeding six per cent alcohol by volume and apple wine not 23
exceeding fifteen per cent alcohol by volume.] 24
(2) An out-of-state retailer shipper's permit for wine shall allow the 25
sale and shipment of wine directly to a consumer in this state. 26
[(b)] (c) Subject to the provisions of this subsection, the permits under 27
subsection [(a)] (b) of this section shall allow the sale and delivery or 28
shipment of wine manufactured or sold by the permittee directly to a 29
consumer in this state. Such permittee, when selling and shipping wine 30
directly to a consumer in this state, shall: (1) Ensure that the shipping 31
labels on all containers of wine shipped directly to a consumer in this 32
state conspicuously state the following: "CONTAINS ALCOHOL —33
SIGNATURE OF A PERSON AGE 21 OR OLDER REQUIRED FOR 34
DELIVERY"; (2) obtain the signature of a person age twenty-one or older 35
at the address prior to delivery, after requiring the signer to demonstrate 36
that he or she is age twenty -one or older by providing a valid motor 37
vehicle operator's license or a valid identity card described in section 1-38
1h; (3) not ship more than five gallons of wine in any two-month period 39
to any person in this state and not ship any wine until such permittee is 40
registered, with respect to the permittee's sales of wine to consumers in 41
this state, for purposes of the taxes imposed under chapters 219 and 220, 42
with the Department of Revenue Services; (4) pay, to the Department of 43
Revenue Services, all sales taxes and alcoholic beverage taxes due under 44
chapters 219 and 220 on sales of wine to consumers in this state, and file, 45
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with said department, all sales tax returns and alcoholic beverage tax 46
returns relating to such sales, with the amount of such taxes to be 47
calculated as if the sale were in this state at the location where delivery 48
is made; (5) report to the Department of Consumer Protection a separate 49
and complete record of all sales and shipments to consumers in the state, 50
on a ledger sheet or similar form which readily presents a chronological 51
account of such permittee's dealings with each such consumer; (6) 52
permit the Department of Consumer Protection and Department of 53
Revenue Services, separately or jointly, to perform an audit of the 54
permittee's records upon request; (7) not ship to any address in the state 55
where the sale of alcoholic liquor is prohibited by local option pursuant 56
to section 30-9; (8) hold an in-state transporter permit under section 30-57
19f or make any such shipment through the use of a person who holds 58
such an in-state transporter permit; (9) execute a written consent to the 59
jurisdiction of this state, its agencies and instrumentalities and the 60
courts of this state concerning the enforcement of this section and any 61
related laws, rules, or regulations, including tax laws, rules or 62
regulations; and (10) comply with the provisions of section 30 -68m 63
regarding the prohibition of selling wine below cost. 64
[(c)] (d) The Department of Consumer Protection, in consultation 65
with the Department of Revenue Services, may adopt regulations in 66
accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to assure compliance with 67
the provisions of subsection [(b)] (c) of this section. 68
[(d)] (e) A holder of a permit under subsection [(a)] (b) of this section, 69
when advertising or offering wine for direct shipment to a consumer in 70
this state via the Internet or any other on -line computer network, shall 71
clearly and conspicuously state such liquor permit number in its 72
advertising. 73
[(e)] (f) (1) For purposes of chapter 219, the holder of a permit under 74
subsection [(a)] (b) of this section, when shipping wine directly to a 75
consumer in this state, shall be deemed to be a retailer engaged in 76
business in this state as defined in chapter 219 and shall be required to 77
be issued a seller's permit pursuant to chapter 219. 78
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(2) For purposes of chapter 220, the holder of a permit under 79
subsection [(a)] (b) of this section, when shipping wine directly to a 80
consumer in this state, shall be deemed to be a distributor as defined in 81
chapter 220 and shall be required to be licensed pursuant to chapter 220. 82
[(f)] (g) Any person who applies for an out -of-state winery shipper's 83
permit for wine or for the renewal of such permit shall furnish an 84
affidavit to the Department of Consumer Protection, in such form as 85
may be prescribed by the department, affirming whether the out -of-86
state winery that is the subject of such permit produced more than one 87
hundred thousand gallons of wine during the most recently completed 88
calendar year. 89
[(g)] (h) The annual fee for an out-of-state winery shipper's permit for 90
wine shall be three hundred fifteen dollars and the annual fee for an out-91
of-state retailer shipper's permit for wine shall be six hundred dollars. 92
[(h) As used in this section, "out-of-state" means any state other than 93
Connecticut, any territory or possession of the United States, the District 94
of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, but does not include 95
any foreign country.] 96
Sec. 2. Subsection (b) of section 30 -37f of the general statutes is 97
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof ( Effective from 98
passage): 99
(b) Sections 30-9 to 30-13a, inclusive, section 30-22aa, subdivision [(2)] 100
(3) of subsection (b) of section 30-39, as amended by this act, subsection 101
(c) of section 30-39 and sections 30-44, 30-46, 30-48a and 30-91a shall not 102
apply to a cafe permit issued pursuant to subsection (d) of section 30 -103
22a. 104
Sec. 3. Subsection (b) of section 30 -39 of the 2026 supplement to the 105
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 106
thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 107
(b) (1) Any person desiring a liquor permit or a renewal of such a 108
permit shall make an affirmed application therefor to the Department of 109
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Consumer Protection, upon forms to be furnished by the department, 110
showing the name and address of the applicant and of the applicant's 111
backer, if any, the location of the club or place of business which is to be 112
operated under such permit and a financial statement setting forth all 113
elements and details of any business transactions connected with the 114
application. [Such] If such application is for a liquor permit that allows 115
on-premises serving or consumption of alcoholic liquor, such 116
application shall also include a detailed description of the type of live 117
entertainment that is to be provided. A club or place of business shall be 118
exempt from providing such detailed description if the club or place of 119
business (A) was issued a liquor permit prior to October 1, 1993, and (B) 120
has not altered the type of entertainment provided. The application shall 121
also indicate any crimes of which the applicant or the applicant's backer 122
may have been convicted. The department shall not review an initial 123
application until the applicant has submitted all documents necessary 124
to establish that state and local building, fire and zoning requirements 125
and local ordinances concerning hours and days of sale will be met, 126
except that local building and zoning requirements and local ordinances 127
concerning hours and days of sale shall not apply to a cafe permit issued 128
under subsection (d) or (h) of section 30 -22a. If the applicant does not 129
submit all such documents within the thirty -day period beginning on 130
the date on which the department receives the initial application, or if 131
such documents are not fully executed by the appropriate authorities, 132
such initial application shall be deemed withdrawn and invalid. The 133
State Fire Marshal or the marshal's certified designee shall be 134
responsible for approving compliance with the State Fire Code at 135
Bradley International Airport. Any person desiring a permit provided 136
for in section 30-33b shall file a copy of such person's license with such 137
application if such license was issued by the Department of Consumer 138
Protection. The department may, at its discretion, conduct an 139
investigation to determine (i) whether a permit shall be issued to an 140
applicant or the applicant's backer, or (ii) the suitability of the proposed 141
permit premises. Completion of an inspection pursuant to subsection (f) 142
of section 29 -305 shall not be deemed to constitute a precondition to 143
renewal of a permit that is subject to subsection (f) of section 29-305. 144
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(2) The applicant shall pay to the department a nonrefundable 145
application fee, which fee shall be in addition to the fees prescribed in 146
this chapter for the permit sought. An application fee shall not be 147
charged for an application to renew a permit. The application fee shall 148
be in the amount of ten dollars for the filing of each application for a 149
permit by a nonprofit golf tournament permit under section 30-37g or a 150
temporary liquor permit for a noncommercial entity under section 30 -151
35; and in the amount of one hundred dollars for the filing of an initial 152
application for all other permits. Any permit issued shall be valid only 153
for the purposes and activities described in the application. 154
(3) (A) The applicant shall affix, and maintain in a legible condition 155
upon the outer door of the building wherein such place of business is to 156
be located and clearly visible from the public highway, the placard 157
provided by the department, not later than the day following the receipt 158
of the placard by the applicant. If such outer door of such premises is so 159
far from the public highway that such placard is not clearly visible as 160
provided, the department shall direct a suitable method to notify the 161
public of such application. When an application is filed for any type of 162
permit for a building that has not been constructed, such applicant shall 163
erect and maintain in a legible condition a sign not less than six feet by 164
four feet upon the site where such place of business is to be located, 165
instead of such placard upon the outer door of the building. The sign 166
shall set forth the type of permit applied for and the name of the 167
proposed permittee, shall be clearly visible from the public highway and 168
shall be so erected not later than the day following the receipt of the 169
placard. Such applicant shall make a return to the department, under 170
oath, of compliance with the foregoing requirements, in such form as 171
the department may determine, but the department may require any 172
additional proof of such compliance. Upon receipt of evidence of such 173
compliance, the department may hold a hearing as to the suitability of 174
the proposed location. 175
(B) The provisions of subparagraph (A) of this subdivision regarding 176
placarding shall not apply to applications for [(A)] (i) airline permits 177
issued under section 30 -28a, [(B)] (ii) temporary liquor permits for 178
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noncommercial entities issued under section 30-35, [(C)] (iii) concession 179
permits issued under section 30 -33, [(D)] (iv) military permits issued 180
under section 30-34, [(E)] (v) cafe permits issued under subsection (h) of 181
section 30-22a, [(F)] (vi) warehouse permits issued under section 30 -32, 182
[(G)] (vii) broker's permits issued under section 30-30, [(H)] (viii) out-of-183
state shipper's permits for alcoholic liquor issued under section 30 -18, 184
[(I)] (ix) out-of-state shipper's permits for beer issued under section 30 -185
19, [(J)] (x) coliseum permits issued under section 30 -33a, [(K)] (xi) 186
nonprofit golf tournament permits issued under section 30 -37g, [(L)] 187
(xii) Connecticut craft cafe permits issued under section 30 -22d to 188
permittees who held a manufacturer permit for a brew pub or a 189
manufacturer permit for beer issued under subsection (b) of section 30-190
16 and a brew pub before July 1, 2020, [(M)] (xiii) off-site farm winery 191
sales and wine, cider and mead tasting permits issued under section 30-192
16a, [(N)] (xiv) out-of-state retailer shipper's permits for wine issued 193
under section 30 -18a, as amended by this act , [(O)] (xv) out-of-state 194
winery shipper's permits for wine issued under section 30 -18a, as 195
amended by this act, [(P)] (xvi) in-state transporter permits for alcoholic 196
liquor issued under section 30 -19f, including, but not limited to, boats 197
operating under such permits, [(Q)] (xvii) seasonal outdoor open -air 198
permits issued under section 30-22e, [(R)] (xviii) festival permits issued 199
under section 30-37t, [(S)] (xix) temporary auction permits issued under 200
section 30-37u, [(T)] (xx) outdoor open-air permits issued under section 201
30-22f, and [(U)] (xxi) renewals of any permit described in 202
subparagraphs [(A)] (B)(i) to [(T)] (B)(xx), inclusive, of this subdivision, 203
if applicable. [The] 204
(C) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (B) of this 205
subdivision, the provisions of subparagraph (A) of this subdivision 206
regarding [placard display] placarding shall [also be required of] apply 207
to any applicant who seeks to amend the type of live entertainment to 208
be provided, either upon filing of a renewal application or upon 209
requesting permission of the department in a form that requires the 210
approval of the municipal zoning official. 211
(4) In any case in which a permit has been issued to a partnership, if 212
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one or more of the partners dies or retires, the remaining partner or 213
partners need not file a new application for the unexpired portion of the 214
current permit, and no additional fee for such unexpired portion shall 215
be required. Notice of any such change shall be given to the department 216
and the permit shall be endorsed to show correct ownership. When any 217
partnership changes by reason of the addition of one or more persons, a 218
new application with new fees shall be required. 219
Sec. 4. Section 30-45 of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes is 220
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 221
passage): 222
[The] (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the 223
Department of Consumer Protection shall refuse [permits] any permit 224
for the sale of alcoholic liquor to : [the following persons:] (1) Any state 225
marshal, judicial marshal, judge of any court, prosecuting officer or 226
member of any police force; (2) [any minor; (3)] any constable who (A) 227
performs criminal law enforcement duties and is considered a peace 228
officer by town ordinance pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) 229
of section 54-1f, or (B) is certified under the provisions of sections 7-294a 230
to 7 -294e, inclusive, and performs criminal law enforcement duties 231
pursuant to the provisions of subsection (c) of section 54-1f; [and (4)] (3) 232
any special constable appointed pursuant to section 7-92; [. This] and (4) 233
any minor as the permittee or as a member, principal or partner of the 234
backer, provided nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to 235
require the department to refuse any such permit to a trust with a named 236
beneficiary who is a minor. 237
(b) The provisions of subdivisions (1) to (3), inclusive, of subsection 238
(a) of this section shall not apply to: [any] (1) Any out-of-state shipper's 239
permit issued under section 30-18, 30-18a, as amended by this act, or 30-240
19; [,] (2) any cafe permit issued under section 30 -22a; [,] (3) any cafe 241
permit for wine, beer and cider issued under section 30 -22g; [,] (4) any 242
boat operating under any in -state transporter permit issued under 243
section 30-19f; or (5) any airline permit issued under section 30-28a. [As 244
used in this section, "minor" means a minor, as defined in section 1 -1d 245
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or as defined in section 30-1, whichever age is older.] 246
Sec. 5. Section 30 -86a of the general statutes is repealed and the 247
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 248
(a) For the purposes of section 30-86, any permittee shall require any 249
person whose age is in question to fill out and sign a statement in the 250
following form on one occasion when each such person makes a 251
purchase: 252
...., 20.. 253
I, ...., hereby represent to ...., a permittee of the Connecticut 254
Department of Consumer Protection, that I am over the age of 21 years, 255
having been born on ...., 19.. or 20.., at ..... (city), ….. (state). This 256
statement is made to induce said permittee to sell or otherwise furnish 257
alcoholic beverages to the undersigned. I understand that title 30 of the 258
general statutes prohibits the sale of alcoholic liquor to any person who 259
is not twenty-one years of age. 260
I understand that I am subject to a fine of one hundred dollars for the 261
first offense and not more than two hundred fifty dollars for each 262
subsequent offense for wilfully misrepresenting my age for the 263
purposes set forth in this statement. 264
.... (Name) 265
.... (Address) 266
Such statement once taken shall be applicable both to the particular 267
sale in connection with which such statement was taken, as well as to all 268
future sales at the same premises, and shall have full force and effect 269
under subsection (b) of this section as to every subsequent sale or 270
purchase. Such statement shall be printed upon appropriate forms to be 271
furnished by the permittee and approved by the Department of 272
Consumer Protection or electronically displayed by the permittee on an 273
electronic device that is capable of allowing the person whose age is in 274
question to electronically fill out and sign such statement. If such 275
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statement is filled out and signed in paper form, such statement shall be 276
kept on file on the permit premises, alphabetically indexed, in a suitable 277
file box, and shall be open to inspection by the department or any of the 278
department's agents or inspectors at any reasonable time. If such 279
statement is filled out and signed in electronic form, such statement 280
shall be stored in an electronic medium that is immediately accessible 281
from the permit premises, alphabetically indexed, and shall be in an 282
electronic format that is accessible to the department or any of the 283
department's agents or inspectors at any reasonable time. Any person 284
who makes any false statement on a form signed by such person as 285
required by this section shall be fined not more than one hundred 286
dollars for the first offense and not more than two hundred fifty dollars 287
for each subsequent offense. 288
(b) In any case where such a statement has been procured and the 289
permittee is subsequently charged with serving or furnishing alcoholic 290
beverages to a minor, if such permittee, in proceedings before any court 291
of this state or the Department of Consumer Protection, introduces such 292
statement in evidence and shows both that the evidence presented to 293
[him] such permittee to establish the age of the purchaser was such as 294
would convince a reasonable [man] person and that such permittee or 295
the backer otherwise acted reasonably in serving or furnishing alcoholic 296
beverages to the minor, no penalty shall be imposed on such permittee. 297
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 from passage 30-18a
Sec. 2 from passage 30-37f(b)
Sec. 3 July 1, 2026 30-39(b)
Sec. 4 from passage 30-45
Sec. 5 from passage 30-86a
GL Joint Favorable Subst.
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The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of
the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not
represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,
fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional
knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final
products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill makes various changes to the liquor control statutes which
result in no fiscal impact to the state.
The Out Years
State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None
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OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 230
AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER
PROTECTION'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING LIQUOR
CONTROL.
SUMMARY
This bill makes various changes to the Liquor Control Act.
Specifically, it:
1. requires alcoholic liquor permittees or backers who get an age
statement form from a customer whose age is in question to have
acted reasonably in serving or providing alcohol to them in order
to not be liable for serving a minor;
2. generally requires the Department of Consumer Protection
(DCP) to refuse an alcoholic liquor permit to any one under age
21 as a backer (for example, a business owner);
3. defines “retailer” for the purposes of certain out -of-state
shippers’ permits;
4. limits the requirement that alcoholic liquor permit applicants
include in their applications a detailed description of the ir live
entertainment to only those applying for permits for on-premises
serving or consumption; and
5. makes a clarifying change to the requirement that alcoholic liquor
permittees trying to amend the entertainment they have follow
specified placarding (signage) requirements.
The bill makes various other minor, technical, and conforming
changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage, except the provisions on live
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entertainment and placarding are effective July 1, 2026.
AGE STATEMENT RELIEVING PERMITTEE OF CERTAIN LIABILITY
FORM
By law, if alcoholic liquor permittees are unsure of a person’s age,
they must have the person fill out and sign an age statement form in
which the customer states that he or she (1) is over age 21, (2) knows that
the law prohibits alcohol sales to someone younger , and (3) knows the
penalty for willfully misrepresenting their age. Getting this form
relieves the permittee of liability for serving to a minor if the permittee
is later charged with that and (1) introduces the statement in the
proceedings and (2 ) shows that the proof of age evidence they were
given would convince a reasonable person of the purchaser’s age.
The bill additionally requires the permittee or backer to have acted
reasonably otherwise in serving or providing alcohol to the minor to
have this relief from liability.
The bill also requires the statement the person fills out to include the
city and state where the person was born.
MINORS AS BACKERS
Current law requires DCP to refuse to issue an alcoholic liquor permit
to minors (anyone under age 21), among others. The bill expands this
prohibition to also include any minor as a member, principal, or partner
of a backer, but it allows permits to be issued to a trust with a minor as
a named beneficiary.
OUT-OF-STATE SHIPPERS’ PERMITS
The bill defines “retailer” for purposes of certain out-of-state
shippers’ permits as any business entity that (1) primarily sells alcoholic
liquor in sealed bottles or other containers for off-premises consumption
and (2) holds a retailer permit issued by the alcohol beverage authority
in its home state.
Existing law allows (1) certain wine makers that produce less than
100,000 gallons of wine per year to get out -of-state winery shippers’
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permits to sell and ship to retailers (in original sealed containers of up
to 15 gallons each) wine they make ; and (2) retailers to get an out -of-
state retailer shipper’s permit for wine to sell and ship directly to a
Connecticut consumer, with various requirements (for example, certain
labeling and age verification requirements and shipment limits).
Presumably, the definition of “retailer” only applies to the second
permit and not the first.
PLACARDING REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN LIQUOR
PERMITTEES
Current law requires alcoholic liquor permittees seeking to amend
the entertainment type they provide to follow the same placarding
requirements that apply to applicants for certain liquor permits. The bill
makes a clarifying change that this placarding requirement only applies
to permittees seeking to amend the live entertainment they provide. As
under existing law, this filing or request requires municipal zoning
approval.
COMMITTEE ACTION
General Law Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 20 Nay 0 (03/11/2026)