CaliforniaSB 3952025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Alcoholic beverages: additional licenses: retail district.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

New liquor licenses for San Francisco restaurants

The law lets ABC issue up to 20 new on-sale general licenses for bona fide restaurants inside a designated hospitality zone in San Francisco. In the first year after the city adopts and sends the ordinance to ABC, up to 10 may be issued; after that, up to 5 per year until 20 total. The city can create only one zone, and it must be a single area with at least 1,000,000 square feet of public retail space, designated on or after January 1, 2026. The ordinance must map the zone, state that it meets the definition, and find that extra licenses serve public convenience or necessity. Any ordinance takes effect the next July 1 after adoption, and ABC uses its normal licensing process. If a license is canceled or revoked, ABC issues another to keep the pool full. ABC cannot issue these licenses after July 1, 2033.

Limits on transferring and reselling zone licenses

These licenses cannot be moved to another county or to a location outside the hospitality zone. You generally cannot transfer the license to another person, and you cannot sell it for more than the original fee you paid. Local government may set a lower cap on how many go in the zone and limit where inside the zone they can be used; the zone must be one connected area. If your restaurant already has an on-sale general license at the same address in the zone, you cannot get another under this program. ABC may label a license “special use,” but the label does not change any rights or limits.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Scott Wiener
Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

Mike Gipson
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 205 • No: 0

Senate vote • 9/2/2025

Item 168 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 40 • No: 0

House vote • 8/28/2025

Item 102 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 74 • No: 0

legislature vote • 8/20/2025

Vote in CX25

Yes: 15 • No: 0

legislature vote • 7/9/2025

Vote in CX07

Yes: 22 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/27/2025

Item 154 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 39 • No: 0

legislature vote • 4/8/2025

Vote in CS48