AI Generated Summary
Purpose of the Bill
The bill aims to modify regulations related to liquor licenses specifically for microdistilleries and distilled spirits manufacturers in Minnesota. It seeks to amend the current laws regarding cocktail room licenses and how they are issued and managed.
Main Provisions
Issuance of Cocktail Room Licenses: The bill allows cities and municipalities, even those with municipal liquor stores, to issue cocktail room licenses to holders of microdistillery or distilled spirits manufacturer licenses. These licenses permit the onsale of distilled liquor produced by the distiller for consumption on or near the distillery premises.
Sunday Operations: It allows cocktail rooms to operate and conduct onsale business on Sundays if permitted by the local municipality.
Combination with Restaurant Licenses: Holders of a cocktail room license are also allowed to operate a restaurant at their distillery location if they hold the relevant license.
Limitation on Licenses: A distiller is limited to holding only one cocktail room license.
Preclusions on Combined Licenses: An entity cannot hold both a cocktail room and a taproom license unless they already possessed a taproom and microdistillery license as of August 20, 2014.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
The bill modifies section 340A.22 of the Minnesota Statutes to explicitly allow cocktail rooms to operate on Sundays and clarifies the conditions under which licenses can be issued and used in combination with restaurant licenses.
It introduces restrictions to prevent single entities from holding both cocktail room and taproom licenses simultaneously, preventing the colocation of these operations except under specific historical conditions.
Relevant Terms
cocktail room license, microdistillery, distilled spirits manufacturer, municipal liquor store, Sunday operations, taproom license, colocation restrictions
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 22, 2025 | House | Floor | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Commerce Finance and Policy |
| April 22, 2025 | House | Floor | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Commerce Finance and Policy |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Allows cocktail rooms to open on Sundays if authorized by the municipality."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill modifies requirements for microdistilleries and distilled spirits manufacturers operating cocktail rooms under section 340A.22, subdivision 2.",
"modified": [
"Clarifies license eligibility and operational requirements for distilled spirit manufacturers."
]
},
"citation": "340A.22",
"subdivision": "subdivision 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References limitations on dining and liquor service hours for cocktail rooms under section 340A.504, subdivision 3.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "340A.504",
"subdivision": "subdivision 3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Confirms that all provisions applicable to retail liquor licenses also apply to microdistillery or distilled spirits manufacturer cocktail room licenses under section 340A.409.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "340A.409",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Refers to limitations on licensing fees that municipalities may impose on distillers under section 340A.408, subdivision 2, paragraph a.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "340A.408",
"subdivision": "subdivision 2, paragraph a"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Relates to the conditions under which entities with existing taproom licenses may hold a cocktail room license under section 340A.26.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "340A.26",
"subdivision": ""
}
]