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SB1344 • 2026

Alcoholic Beverages

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7 and Title 57, relative to retail package stores.

Elections
Active

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

Sponsor
Campbell, Mitchell
Last action
2026-03-24
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Changes

This bill changes Tennessee laws to allow retail package stores selling alcohol in general services districts of metropolitan areas if approved by local vote.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law so that a city can let stores sell alcohol for people to take home from general service areas within the city limits.
  • Allows cities to give licenses to stores that want to sell alcohol, as long as the city's voters agree through a local election.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Stores that want to sell alcohol for people to take home
  • People who live or work in cities with approved retail sale of liquor

Terms To Know

retail package store license
A special permission slip from the government that lets a store sell bottles and cans of alcohol for people to take home.
metropolitan government
The main city government in charge of big cities or urban areas.

Limits and Unknowns

  • It is not clear how many cities will choose to allow these stores.
  • This bill does not change the rules for selling alcohol in rural or small town areas outside metropolitan districts.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee

  2. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  3. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  4. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee

  5. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  6. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/17/2026

  7. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee to 3/17/2026

  8. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/10/2026

  9. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee to 3/10/2026

  10. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/3/2026

  11. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Failed in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee

  12. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/11/2025

  13. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  15. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee

  16. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  17. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  18. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  19. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 942
By Mitchell

SENATE BILL 1344
By Campbell

SB1344
002470
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7 and
Title 57, relative to retail package stores.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 7-3-303(b), is amended by deleting
the language "then the urban services district, but not the general services district," and
substituting "then the urban services district and the general services district".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 57-3-106, is amended by adding the
following new subsection:
(m) Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, if a metropolitan government
approves by local option election under this section the retail sale of liquor within its
jurisdiction, then a retailer's license may be issued to a qualified applicant to operate a
package store within the jurisdiction of the metropolitan government, including within a
general services district of the metropolitan government.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 57-3-205(a), is amended by deleting
"or within a civil district of a county" and substituting ", within the urban or general services
district of a metropolitan government, or within a civil district of a county".
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.