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HB2476 • 2026

Theater licenses/alcohol

Modifying the spirits, beer, and wine theater license.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Dufault, Representative Corry
Last action
2026-02-16
Official status
H subst for
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Theater licenses/alcohol

Theater licenses/alcohol

What This Bill Does

  • Theater licenses/alcohol

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

2476-S AMH WALE MULV 612

1633 • Walen

ADOPTED

Plain English: 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 2476-S AMH WALE MULV 612 1 - Official Print By Representative Walen EFFECT: Permits theaters to hold a spirits, beer, and wine theater license if they have up to 200 seats per screen and meet food preparation and alcohol control plan requirements, rather than limiting theaters with more than 120 seats per screen to hold such a license if they only permit persons 21 years of age and up to be admitted.

  • 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 2476-S AMH WALE MULV 612 1 - Official Print By Representative Walen EFFECT: Permits theaters to hold a spirits, beer, and wine theater license if they have up to 200 seats per screen and meet food preparation and alcohol control plan requirements, rather than limiting theaters with more than 120 seats per screen to hold such a license if they only permit persons 21 years of age and up to be admitted.
  • Requires theaters' alcohol control plans to include at least the following measures: (a) Regular monitoring by staff who have completed an alcohol server training program; (b) electronic identification scanners used at all points of sale for alcoholic beverage purchases; and (c) identification checks for all alcoholic beverage purchases regardless of the age of the consumer.
  • 2476-S AMH WALE MULV 612 SHB 2476 - H AMD 1633 ADOPTED 02/16/2026 On page 1, beginning on line 10, after "that" strike all material through "maintained" on line 15 and insert "have no more than ((120)) 200 seats per screen and that are maintained" On page 2, line 5, after "allowed." insert "Alcohol control plan measures must include at least: (a) Regular monitoring by staff who have completed an alcohol server training program; (b) Electronic identification scanners used at all points of sale for alcoholic beverage purchases; and (c) Identification checks for all alcoholic beverage purchases regardless of the age of the consumer." --- END

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-16 House

    1st substitute bill substituted.

Official Summary Text

Theater licenses/alcohol

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
AN ACT Relating to removing the requirement that a theater may 1
have no more than 120 seats per screen to qualify for a spirits, 2
beer, and wine theater license; and amending RCW 66.24.655.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 66.24.655 and 2025 c 343 s 49 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
(1) There is a theater license to sell spirits, beer, including 7
strong beer, or wine, or all, at retail, for consumption on theater 8
premises. A spirits, beer, and wine theater license may be issued 9
only to theaters that ((have no more than 120 seats per screen and 10
that)) are maintained in a substantial manner as a place for 11
preparing, cooking, and serving complete meals and providing tabletop 12
accommodations for in-theater dining. Requirements for complete meals 13
are the same as those adopted by the board in rules pursuant to 14
chapter 34.05 RCW for a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant license 15
authorized by RCW 66.24.400. The annual fee for a spirits, beer, and 16
wine theater license is $2,500. 17
(2) If the theater premises is to be frequented by minors, an 18
alcohol control plan must be submitted to the board at the time of 19
application. The alcohol control plan must be approved by the board 20
H-2882.1
HOUSE BILL 2476
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Dufault and Corry
Read first time 01/14/26. Referred to Committee on Consumer
Protection & Business.
p. 1 HB 2476
and be prominently posted on the premises, prior to minors being 1
allowed. 2
(3) For the purposes of this section: 3
(a) "Alcohol control plan" means a written, dated, and signed 4
plan submitted to the board by an applicant or licensee for the 5
entire theater premises, or rooms or areas therein, that shows where 6
and when alcohol is permitted, where and when minors are permitted, 7
and the control measures used to ensure that minors are not able to 8
obtain alcohol or be exposed to environments where drinking alcohol 9
predominates. 10
(b) "Theater" means a place of business where motion pictures or 11
other primarily nonparticipatory entertainment are shown.12
(4) The board must adopt rules regarding alcohol control plans 13
and necessary control measures to ensure that minors are not able to 14
obtain alcohol or be exposed to areas where drinking alcohol 15
predominates. All alcohol control plans must include a requirement 16
that any person involved in the serving of spirits, beer, and/or wine 17
must have completed a mandatory alcohol server training program.18
(5)(a) A licensee that is an entity that is exempt from taxation 19
under Title 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501 (c)(3) of the federal internal revenue 20
code of 1986, as amended as of January 1, 2013, may enter into 21
arrangements with a spirits, beer, or wine manufacturer, importer, or 22
distributor for brand advertising at the theater or promotion of 23
events held at the theater. The financial arrangements providing for 24
the brand advertising or promotion of events may not be used as an 25
inducement to purchase the products of the manufacturer, importer, or 26
distributor entering into the arrangement and such arrangements may 27
not result in the exclusion of brands or products of other companies.28
(b) The arrangements allowed under this subsection (5) are an 29
exception to arrangements prohibited under RCW 66.28.305. The board 30
must monitor the impacts of these arrangements. The board may conduct 31
audits of a licensee and the affiliated business to determine 32
compliance with this subsection (5). Audits may include, but are not 33
limited to: Product selection at the facility; purchase patterns of 34
the licensee; contracts with the spirits, beer, or wine manufacturer, 35
importer, or distributor; and the amount allocated or used for 36
spirits, beer, or wine advertising by the licensee, affiliated 37
business, manufacturer, importer, or distributor under the 38
arrangements. 39
p. 2 HB 2476
(6) The maximum penalties prescribed by the board in WAC 1
314-29-020 relating to fines and suspensions are double for 2
violations involving minors or the failure to follow the alcohol 3
control plan with respect to theaters licensed under this section.4
--- END ---
p. 3 HB 2476