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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
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*sb0400*
SENATE BILL 400
A2 6lr1617
CF HB 519
By: Anne Arundel County Senators
Introduced and read first time: January 28, 2026
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 20, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Anne Arundel County – Alcoholic Beverages – Entertainment Permits 2
FOR the purpose of altering the titles of certain entertainment permits for certain alcoholic 3
beverages license holders in Anne Arundel County; altering the authorized forms of 4
entertainment that certain entertainment permit holders in the county may provide; 5
adding a certain zoning requirement for residential property applicable to certain 6
entertainment permit holders in the county ; and generally relating to alcoholic 7
beverages entertainment permits in Anne Arundel County. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 9
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 10
Section 11–102 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 15
Section 11–1102(a), (b), (c), and (d) 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 21
2 SENATE BILL 400
11–102. 1
This title applies only in Anne Arundel County. 2
11–1102. 3
(a) (1) On the premises, or on adjacent property over which a license holder 4
has ownership or control, a license holder: 5
(i) may allow piped –in background music or one television screen; 6
but 7
(ii) unless issued a permit described in this section that authorizes 8
the activity, may not allow: 9
1. the playing of music, including live music; 10
2. the operation of a karaoke machine; 11
3. the playing of music by a disc jockey; or 12
4. [dancing,] floor shows [,] or any other similar type of 13
entertainment. 14
(2) The Board may issue a permit described in this section only if the Board 15
finds that: 16
(i) the applicant can control the individuals using the licensed 17
premises; 18
(ii) the operation of the premises under the permit will not unduly 19
disturb the peace of the residents of the neighborhood in which the place of business is 20
located; and 21
(iii) the issuing of the permit: 22
1. is necessary to accommodate the public; 23
2. will not be detrimental to the public welfare; and 24
3. will not violate a county fire, health, or building 25
regulation. 26
(b) (1) There is a [music] BACKGROUND ENTERTAINMENT permit. 27
SENATE BILL 400 3
(2) The Board may issue the permit to a holder of a Class B license, a Class 1
BLX license, a Class D license, or a Class H license. 2
(3) The permit authorizes the playing of: 3
(I) MORE THAN ONE TELEVISION; AND 4
(II) recorded music or [live music with not more than two musicians] 5
PIPED–IN BACKGROUND MUSIC. 6
(4) The permit holder may not allow [dancing,] floor shows[,] or similar 7
live entertainment. 8
(5) The annual permit fee is $100. 9
(c) (1) There is [an] A GENERAL entertainment permit. 10
(2) The Board may issue the permit to a holder of a Class B license, a Class 11
BLX license, a Class D license, or a Class H license. 12
(3) The permit authorizes: 13
(i) THE HOLDER TO PROVIDE THE ENTERTAINMENT ALLOWED 14
UNDER A BACKGROUND ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT; 15
(II) live music with not more than four musicians; and 16
[(ii)] (III) the playing of: 17
1. [more than one television] TRIVIA GAMES; 18
2. a karaoke machine; and 19
3. music by a disc jockey. 20
(4) (I) The permit holder may not allow [dancing,] floor shows [,] or 21
similar live entertainment. 22
(II) IF THE ENTERTAINMENT AUTHORIZED UNDER PARAGRAPH 23
(3) OF THIS SUBSECTION WILL OCCUR OUTSIDE , THE AREA USED FOR THE EVENT 24
SHALL BE AT LEAST 100 FEET FROM ANY RESIDENTIALLY ZONED PROPERTY. 25
(5) The annual permit fees are: 26
(i) $200 for a holder of a beer and wine license; and 27
4 SENATE BILL 400
(ii) $300 for a holder of a beer, wine, and liquor license. 1
(d) (1) There is a [dancing] FULL ENTERTAINMENT permit. 2
(2) The Board may issue the permit to a holder of: 3
(i) a Class B license; 4
(ii) except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, a Class 5
BLX license; 6
(iii) a Class C license; 7
(iv) a Class D license; or 8
(v) except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, a Class H 9
license. 10
(3) The permit authorizes the holder to provide: 11
(I) THE ENTERTAINMENT AL LOWED UNDER A GENERAL 12
ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT; AND 13
(II) music, [dancing] A PERMANENT DANCE FL OOR, A STAGE 14
AREA, FLOOR SHOWS, and other legal forms of entertainment. 15
(4) (i) The Board may not issue the permit to a holder of a Class BLX 16
license or a Class H license if the premises for which the Class BLX license or Class H 17
license is issued is within 1,000 feet in a straight line from entry to entry from a place of 18
worship or school. 19
(ii) Notwithstanding subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, the Board 20
may issue the permit to the holder of a Class H license if the licensed premises is located 21
within 1,000 feet in a straight line from entry to entry from a school located at the Annapolis 22
Mall. 23
(III) IF THE ENTERTAINMENT AUTHORIZED UNDER PARAGRAPH 24
(3) OF THIS SUBSECTION W ILL OCCUR OUTSIDE , THE AREA USED FOR TH E EVENT 25
SHALL BE AT LEAST 100 FEET FROM ANY RESIDENTIALLY ZONED PROPERTY. 26
(5) The annual permit fees are: 27
(i) $200 for a holder of a beer and wine license; 28
(ii) $400 for a holder of a beer, wine, and liquor license; and 29
SENATE BILL 400 5
(iii) no charge for a holder of a Class C license. 1
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 2
1, 2026. 3
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.