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HB1987 • 2026

Alcoholic Beverages

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 57, relative to alcoholic beverages.

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Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Eldridge, Briggs
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Alcoholic Beverage License Reinstatement Act

This bill requires that an alcohol wholesaler or retailer's license be reinstated within five business days if they provide their financial records to the commissioner after a suspension or revocation due to refusal of inspection.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the commissioner of revenue to reinstate a license or permit for an alcoholic beverage wholesaler or retailer within five business days if they give the required documents for review.
  • Specifies that the commissioner must inform the Alcoholic Beverage Commission about the reinstatement after receiving the necessary records from the licensee.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Alcoholic beverage wholesalers and retailers in Tennessee who have had their licenses suspended or revoked due to refusal of inspection.
  • The commissioner of revenue responsible for reviewing the financial records of these businesses.
  • The Alcoholic Beverage Commission which must be informed about reinstated licenses.

Terms To Know

Commissioner of Revenue
A state official who oversees tax collection and enforcement, including inspections related to alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic Beverage Commission
An agency that regulates the sale and distribution of alcohol in Tennessee.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a wholesaler or retailer fails to provide the required documents within five business days.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect existing enforcement practices for alcoholic beverage regulations.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB1987

Plain English: The amendment changes how fees for alcoholic beverage regulations can be set and adds new rules about who can work for or get licenses from the commission.

  • Fees established by the commission must now cover additional costs as deemed necessary by the commission, not just implementation and updating of IT systems.
  • New restrictions are placed on who can work for or be appointed to the commission, including prohibitions on having financial interests in licensed businesses.
  • The amendment allows certain family members of commission employees or members to receive specific types of licenses under limited circumstances.
  • The exact nature and extent of additional costs that can now be covered by fees are not specified, leaving some ambiguity about what the commission may charge for.
Amendment 1-0 to SB2019

Plain English: The amendment changes how fees for alcoholic beverage regulations can be set and adds restrictions on who can work for or get licenses from the commission.

  • Fees established by the commission must now cover additional costs as deemed necessary by the commission, beyond just implementing rules and updating technology.
  • It restricts people with financial interests in licensed businesses from being appointed to or working for the commission, except through diversified investment vehicles like mutual funds.
  • The amendment allows family members of commission employees or members to get certain types of licenses under specific conditions.
  • The exact nature and extent of additional costs that can be covered by fees are not clearly defined in the text.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Refer to Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee

  2. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

  3. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  4. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026

  5. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  6. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  7. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/9/2026

  8. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/8/2026

  9. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/8/2026

  10. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/31/2026

  11. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/31/2026

  12. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

  13. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  14. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  15. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/25/2026

  16. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/24/2026

  17. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026

  18. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/24/2026

  19. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026

  20. 2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/18/2026

  21. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/18/2026

  22. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  23. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/17/2026

  24. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/11/2026

  25. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 3/11/2026

  26. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/10/2026

  27. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/4/2026

  28. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  29. 2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  30. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 2/17/2026

  31. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

  32. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee

  33. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  34. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  35. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  36. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  37. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Present law requires

t
he commissioner
of revenue

to
cause to be made a complete audit of each wholesaler at such time as may be deemed advisable for the collection of the taxes levied
under laws relative to intoxicating liquors.
The commissioner
may
examine the books, papers
,
and records of any wholesaler or retailer

for the purpose of enforcing the collection of the tax
so
levied.

Any refusal to permit the examination of such books, papers
,
and records constitute
s
sufficient reason for the revocation or
suspension of any license or permit issued pursuant to
laws relative to intoxicating liquors
or a refusal to issue the same.

This bill requires a
license or permit revoked or suspended
as described above to
be reinstated within five business days upon the wholesaler or retailer providing the books, papers, and records for examination to the commissioner. The commissioner, upon receipt of the documents,
must
inform the alcoholic beverage commission.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 2019
By Briggs

HOUSE BILL 1987
By Eldridge
HB1987
011904
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 57,
relative to alcoholic beverages.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 57-6-202, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(c) A license or permit revoked or suspended pursuant to this section must be
reinstated within five (5) business days upon the wholesaler or retailer providing the
books, papers, and records for examination to the commissioner. The commissioner,
upon receipt of the documents, shall inform the alcoholic beverage commission.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.