An Act amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the Liquor Code, in licenses and regulations and liquor, alcohol and malt and brewed beverages, further providing for Philadelphia 250 permits.

PRINTER'S NO. 3304
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2471
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, HILL-EVANS, STEELE, T. DAVIS,
FREEMAN, MADDEN, SANCHEZ, INGLIS, HANBIDGE, TIBURCIO,
PASHINSKI, BOYD AND D. WILLIAMS, APRIL 28, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LIQUOR CONTROL, APRIL 29, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), entitled "An
act relating to alcoholic liquors, alcohol and malt and
brewed beverages; amending, revising, consolidating and
changing the laws relating thereto; regulating and
restricting the manufacture, purchase, sale, possession,
consumption, importation, transportation, furnishing, holding
in bond, holding in storage, traffic in and use of alcoholic
liquors, alcohol and malt and brewed beverages and the
persons engaged or employed therein; defining the powers and
duties of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board; providing
for the establishment and operation of State liquor stores,
for the payment of certain license fees to the respective
municipalities and townships, for the abatement of certain
nuisances and, in certain cases, for search and seizure
without warrant; prescribing penalties and forfeitures;
providing for local option, and repealing existing laws," in
licenses and regulations and liquor, alcohol and malt and
brewed beverages, further providing for Philadelphia 250
permits.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 408.17 heading, (a), (b), (c), (d) and
(g) of the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the
Liquor Code, added March 27, 2026 (P.L.182, No.8), are amended
and the section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
Section 408.17. [Philadelphia] Pennsylvania 250 Permits.--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
(a) A restaurant, hotel, retail dispenser, brewery, distillery,
limited distillery or limited winery licensee that is located in
a city of the first class or a municipality that has approved an
ordinance under subsection (g.1) may apply to the board for a
[Philadelphia] Pennsylvania 250 permit subject to the fees,
limitations and privileges provided for in this section.
(b) An application for a permit under this section shall:
(1) be filed with the board no less than [thirty] fifteen
days prior to the date on which the applicant intends to begin
operating under subsection (e);
(2) include an application fee of five hundred dollars
($500), which shall be deposited by the board into The State
Stores Fund;
(3) include confirmation that the licensee has completed a
specialized program offered by a city of the first class, if
located in a city of the first class, or the board, if located
in a municipality that has approved an ordinance under
subsection (g.1), to provide training for nighttime safety for
patrons and employees; and
(4) be posted on the board's publicly accessible Internet
website, including the name and address of the licensed
establishment.
* * *
(c) The board may not issue a permit under this section if:
(1) [A protest is filed with the board by a city of the
first class to the issuance of the permit.] The municipality in
which the licensee is located files a protest with the board
objecting to the issuance of the permit.
(2) The license of an applicant is:
(i) subject to a pending objection by the Director of the
20260HB2471PN3304 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Bureau of Licensing or the board under section 470(a.1), until
the matter is decided;
(ii) suspended under section 1799.6-E of the act of April 9,
1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as "The Fiscal Code";
(iii) subject to a conditional licensing agreement resulting
from renewal proceedings under section 470; or
(iv) subject to a pending license suspension under section
471.
(d) A denial of a permit by the board under subsection (c)
shall not be appealable. Any disputes between the [city of the
first class] municipality and an applicant or other interested
parties regarding protests filed under subsection (c)(1) shall
be resolved between those parties and shall not involve the
board.
* * *
(g) The board may immediately revoke a permit issued under
this section if the licensee holding the permit operates outside
the scope of the permit as set forth in this section or
otherwise abuses the privileges granted by the permit. The
enforcement bureau, a [city of the first class] municipality
with a Pennsylvania 250 permit holder in its jurisdiction or a
local law enforcement agency may make a report to the board
requesting the revocation of the permit.
(g.1) A municipality that wishes to allow licensees to apply
for Pennsylvania 250 permits shall adopt an ordinance declaring
eligibility for a Pennsylvania 250 permit under this section.
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require cities
of the first class to pass an ordinance in order to become
eligible for permits under this section.
* * *
20260HB2471PN3304 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20260HB2471PN3304 - 4 -
1