All Roll Calls
Yes: 89 • No: 52
ArkansasSB982025 Regular SessionSenate
TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; TO AUTHORIZE THE THIRD-PARTY DELIVERY OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FROM CERTAIN RETAILERS; AND TO CREATE A THIRD-PARTY DELIVERY PERMIT.
Sponsored By: Breanne Davis (Republican), John Maddox (Republican)
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Delivery businesses get permits with fees
Arkansas creates a third-party alcohol delivery permit for individuals, companies, and partnerships registered to do business in the state. Owners can live elsewhere, but holders of manufacturing-tier or wholesale-tier alcohol permits cannot apply. Permit holders can hire employees or contractors to deliver alcohol from eligible retailers. Each permit costs $500 annually, which the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division keeps. The division sets implementing rules and can fine, suspend, or revoke permits for violations by holders or people acting for them.
Retailers shed responsibility for outsourced deliveries
A retailer's delivery duties generally end when it hands alcohol to a third-party permit holder or its driver. Retailers generally are not liable for the service's actions, including unlawful deliveries involving minors, intoxicated people, or prohibited areas. They also do not have to check whether drivers completed required training. A retailer can agree by contract to keep responsibility or ensure delivery rules are followed.
Age checks and limits on deliveries
Third-party alcohol deliveries require a genuine order from a customer age 21 or older. Recipients must also be at least 21 and show valid proof of identity and age. The recipient must be the buyer or another adult at the buyer's home or workplace. Delivery can finish after store hours if the retailer handed over the alcohol during legal sale hours. The driver must finish within a reasonable time after leaving the store.
More alcohol delivery and pickup options
Eligible Arkansas retailers can deliver alcohol directly or through a permitted delivery service to customers age 21 or older. Eligible permits include liquor, microbrewery-restaurant, small brewery, grocery wine, small farm wine convenience store, and off-premises retail beer. Delivery reaches legal-sale areas in the retailer's county or an adjoining county, but the beverage must be legal there. Retailers must open to the public at least 30 hours weekly, and deliveries generally follow legal sale hours. Retailer employees or contractors can also complete sales at customers' cars in store parking lots or pickup areas after checking age.
Alcohol delivery drivers face training rules
Third-party delivery employees and contractors must be at least 21, have a valid driver's license, and have no felony convictions. Permit applicants must submit a training outline and get Alcoholic Beverage Control Division approval before receiving a permit. Workers must complete approved training before their first delivery and at least once every 12 months. Training covers underage and intoxicated people, valid in-state and out-of-state government IDs, and fake or altered IDs. It also covers areas where alcohol sales are legal or banned; outside providers can offer division-approved training.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Breanne Davis
Republican • Senate
John Maddox
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 2/20/2025
House Vote - Thursday, February 20, 2025 11:41:57 AM
Yes: 56 • No: 33 • Other: 5
Senate vote • 2/12/2025
Senate Vote - Wednesday, February 12, 2025 2:00:58 PM
Yes: 18 • No: 7 • Other: 4
Senate vote • 2/3/2025
Senate Vote - Monday, February 3, 2025 2:12:52 PM
Yes: 15 • No: 12
Actions Timeline
Notification that SB98 is now Act 157
2/25/2025SenateDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
2/20/2025SenateReported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
2/20/2025SenateORDERED ENROLLED
2/20/2025SenateReturned from the House as passed.
2/20/2025SenateReturned to the Senate as passed.
2/20/2025HouseRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
2/20/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
2/19/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on HOUSE RULES
2/12/2025HouseRECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
2/12/2025HouseOrdered immediately transmitted to the House.
2/12/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
2/12/2025SenateReturned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
2/11/2025SenateRe-referred to CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - SENATE
2/10/2025SenateREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
2/10/2025SenateAmendment # 2 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
2/10/2025SenatePlaced on second reading for purpose of amendment.
2/10/2025SenateMotion to expunge the vote; motion carried
2/3/2025SenateRead the third time and failed.
2/3/2025SenateReturned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
1/30/2025SenateRe-referred to CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - SENATE
1/29/2025SenateREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
1/29/2025SenateAmendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
1/29/2025SenateWithdrawn from Committee and placed on 2nd reading for purpose of amendment # 1
1/29/2025SenateRules suspended.
1/29/2025Senate
Bill Text
SB98 - Introduced
1/23/2025
Act Version
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