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*hb0443*
HOUSE BILL 443
A2 6lr1059
By: Prince George’s County Delegation
Introduced and read first time: January 22, 2026
Assigned to: Government, Labor, and Elections
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted with floor amendments
Read second time: March 7, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Prince George’s County – Alcoholic Beverages – Class B–SEC (Small Event 2
Center) License 3
PG 312–26 4
FOR the purpose of establishing a Class B–SEC (small event center) beer, wine, and liquor 5
license in Prince George’s County; authorizing the Board of License Commissioners 6
for Prince George’s County to issue the license for use in certain small event centers 7
in the county; limiting the number of Class B–SEC licenses that the Board may issue 8
per license year and per State legislative district; and generally relating to alcoholic 9
beverages licenses in Prince George’s County. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 11
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 12
Section 26–102 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
BY adding to 16
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 17
Section 26–1013.1 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20
2 HOUSE BILL 443
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 3
26–102. 4
This title applies only in Prince George’s County. 5
26–1013.1. 6
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “SMALL EVENT CENTER ” MEANS A VENUE THAT 7
OPERATES ON A PER –EVENT BASIS OR ON A LIMITED SCHEDULE AND DOES NOT 8
MAINTAIN STANDARD DAILY HOURS OF OPERATION. 9
(B) THERE IS A CLASS B–SEC (SMALL EVENT CENTER ) BEER, WINE, AND 10
LIQUOR LICENSE. 11
(C) THE BOARD MAY ISSUE THE L ICENSE FOR USE IN A SMALL EVENT 12
CENTER THAT HAS KITCHEN AND DINING FACILITIES TO ACCOMMODATE BETWEEN 13
75 AND 125 110 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUSIVE. 14
(D) THE LICENSE AUTHORIZES THE LICENSE HOLDER TO SELL BEER, WINE, 15
AND LIQUOR FOR ON –PREMISES CONSUMPTION TO INDIVIDUALS ATTEN DING AN 16
EVENT AT THE SMALL EVENT CENTER DESCRIBED IN THE LICENSE. 17
(E) THE BOARD MAY NOT ISSUE MORE THAN: 18
(1) 24 LICENSES IN A LICENSE YEAR; OR 19
(2) 3 LICENSES TO APPLY IN EACH STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT IN 20
THE COUNTY AT ANY ONE TIME. 21
(F) THE SMALL EVENT CENTER SHALL HAVE: 22
(1) FOR A SMALL EVENT CE NTER APPROVED FOR OR UNDER 23
CONSTRUCTION, A MINIMUM CAPITAL IN VESTMENT, NOT INCLUDING THE CO ST OF 24
LAND, BUILDINGS, OR LEASING, OF $500,000 $350,000 FOR SMALL EVENT CENTER 25
DINING FACILITIES AND KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; AND 26
(2) FOR A SMALL EVENT CE NTER THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR 27
EVENTS, A MINIMUM APPRAISED VALUE, NOT INCLUDING THE CO ST OF LAND , 28
BUILDINGS, OR LEASING , OF $350,000 FOR S MALL EVENT CENTER DI NING 29
FACILITIES AND KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; AND 30
HOUSE BILL 443 3
(3) FOOD AVAILABLE DURIN G THE HOURS OF OPERA TION FOR AN 1
EVENT. 2
(G) THE LICENSE HOLDER MAY SELL BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR DURING THE 3
HOURS AND DAYS AS SE T OUT FOR A CLASS B BEER, WINE, AND LIQUOR LICENSE 4
UNDER § 26–2004 OF THIS TITLE, SUBJECT TO COUNTY USE AND OCCUPANCY LAWS 5
FOR HOURS OF OPERATION. 6
(H) THE ANNUAL LICENSE FEE IS $3,500. 7
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 8
1, 2026. 9
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.