# Maryland SB 0802: Garrett County - Alcoholic Beverages Act of 2026 Maryland SB 0802, Garrett County - Alcoholic Beverages Act of 2026, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Mike McKay (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-26 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 827) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0802-2026RS - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland SB 0802 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Garrett County - Alcoholic Beverages Act of 2026 - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-02-06 - Last action: 2026-05-26, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 827 - Sponsor: Mike McKay (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Alcoholic Beverages - Local Bills, Alcoholic Beverages -see also- AB-By Subdivision, Alcoholic Beverages Distribution, Alcoholic Beverages Licenses, Alcoholic Beverages - By Subdivision, Applicants and Applications, Blue Laws, Boundaries, Committee Changes, Evidence, Fees -see also- Attys' Fees; Devt Fees & Taxes, Food -see also- Meat, Poultry, & Seafood; Milk; etc., Forms, Garrett County, Hotels and Motels, Immigrants and Citizenship -see also- Residency, Inspections -see also- Motor Vehicle Inspection, Job Training -see also- Continuing Ed; Vocational Rehab, License Commissioners, Boards of, Notices, Permits -see also- Building Permits, Referendum, Restaurants, Rules and Regulations, Salaries and Compensation -see also- Overtime; Reimb. Rates, Special Events, Sports and Recreation, Time - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (164 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 14 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - New citizenship and residency checks for applicants: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, license applicants must state if they are a natural‑born or naturalized U.S. citizen. Non‑citizens must state they comply with federal immigration law and provide proof. At least one applicant must be a State resident at application, and the license stays valid only while at… - Stricter rules for private event permits: cost, low. Starting July 1, 2026, Special Event Permit holders cannot have any financial interest in the licensed caterer or other contracted party. They also cannot let the general public enter any part of the licensed premises during a private event. These limits apply to private events held under the count… - Deluxe complex (BDR–DC) licenses and fees: mixed, high. Beginning July 1, 2026, a Class BDR–DC license is available to deluxe complex restaurants with at least 20 seats and a minimum capital investment set by law. One section requires at least $25,000; another requires at least $250,000. The license allows on‑site beer, wine, and liquor, beer to go, and… - Full Class B alcohol: fees and limits: mixed, high. Beginning July 1, 2026, a Class B beer, wine, and liquor license has annual fees of $1,500 (6‑day, no catering), $2,000 (6‑day with catering), $1,750 (7‑day, no catering), or $2,250 (7‑day with catering). New licenses pay a one‑time issuing fee equal to the annual fee. The Board must deny an applic… - Class B beer & wine: fees, catering: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, a Class B beer and wine license lets qualifying hotels and restaurants sell beer and wine on site and beer to go, if they meet seating and meal service rules. Annual fees are $350 (6‑day, no catering), $475 (6‑day with catering), $410 (7‑day, no catering), or $535 (7‑day wit… - Class D retail alcohol: new types, fees: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, a Class D beer and wine license allows on‑ and off‑site sales, but cannot be issued for use by a drugstore. New Class D 75% licenses require at least 75% of sales to be on‑site (for on‑sale) or at least 75% to be off‑site (for off‑sale); grocery stores whose main business is… - Deluxe restaurant (BDR) licenses and fees: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, restaurants with at least 20 seats and at least $25,000 invested in restaurant facilities can get a Class BDR beer and wine license to sell on site and sell beer to go. Annual BDR fees are $500 (6‑day, no catering), $625 (6‑day with catering), $585 (7‑day, no catering), or $… - Local caterer license: rights, fees, rules: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, a local caterer’s license is available to food caterers with county health‑approved facilities who hold no other Board license. It lets you sell or provide alcoholic beverages at catered events anywhere in the county during Class B license hours, on unlicensed sites or sites… - Resort alcohol license and per‑facility fees: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, complexes with at least two qualifying facilities on the same property (the extra facility at least 150 feet from the main premises) can get a Class B‑resort beer and wine license. The Board must find the facilities are hotel, motel, recreational, or restaurant facilities. T… - Winery event permits, fees, and limits: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, Class 3 or Class 4 wineries can get a Special Event Permit to sell beer, their wine, sparkling wine, and liquor at private events that rent the whole premises. The permit costs $1,750 each year, plus a one-time $1,750 issuing fee. You must schedule and notify the Board at le… - Class B beer license with catering: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, qualifying hotels, motels, inns, and restaurants can get a Class B beer license and add a catering option. Annual fees are $150 (6‑day, no catering), $250 (6‑day with catering), $175 (7‑day, no catering), or $275 (7‑day with catering). New licenses pay a one‑time issuing fee… - State manufacturer rules now apply locally: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, the listed state Manufacturer’s License sections apply in Garrett County without changes. Wineries, breweries, and other producers in the county follow these state rules for licensing and operations. - Applies only in Garrett County: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, this alcoholic beverages law applies only in Garrett County. County residents, businesses, and local regulators must follow these rules. The law does not apply outside the county. - New rules for Garrett alcohol board: mixed, low. Starting July 1, 2026, the Garrett County Alcoholic Beverages Board has three members and one substitute, appointed by the Governor. If the county has a resident Senator, the Senate confirms; otherwise, the House confirms. Members must be county voters of good character and not receive county pay;… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Mike McKay (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 121 | 0 | 19 | | 2026-03-05 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 43 | 0 | | ## Actions (11) - 2026-05-26: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 827 - 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (Senate) - 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (121-0) (House) - 2026-04-11: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House) - 2026-04-11: Favorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections (House) - 2026-03-06: Referred Government, Labor, and Elections (House) - 2026-03-05: Third Reading Passed (43-0) (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Favorable Report by Finance (Senate) - 2026-02-11: Hearing 2/20 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate) - 2026-02-06: First Reading Finance (Senate) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-05-26: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_827_sb0802t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-03-03: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0802t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-02-06: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0802f.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law) - SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law) - SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) - SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law) - SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law) - HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) ## Sources - [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_827_sb0802t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0802t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0802f.pdf) ## Related - [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS) - [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS) - [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS) - [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS) - [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS) - [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS) - [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills) - [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0802-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).