# Maine LD 494: An Act to Update and Clarify Certain Provisions of State Liquor and Lottery Laws Maine LD 494, An Act to Update and Clarify Certain Provisions of State Liquor and Lottery Laws, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Laura Supica (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-06-10 (Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 230); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD494-132 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maine LD 494 - State: Maine - Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) - Title: An Act to Update and Clarify Certain Provisions of State Liquor and Lottery Laws - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-02-06 - Last action: 2025-06-10, Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 230 - Sponsor: Laura Supica (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 2 - Subjects: ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - LICENSING - Touches household money: yes - Economic provisions PRIA read: 10 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Clear drink serving‑size limits: benefit, low. Starting June 10, 2025, the 4.5‑ounce single‑service limit applies only to spirits over 15% alcohol. The 1‑liter limit for wine carafes and any malt liquor serving or pitcher still applies. On‑premises licensees and servers must follow these limits. - Hotel licenses and drinks in rooms: benefit, low. Beginning June 10, 2025, hotels with at least 4 guest rooms and a DHHS license can get liquor licenses. Licensed hotels may let guests carry drinks bought in designated hotel areas into their rooms. This permission applies only to liquor purchased in those areas. - More small passenger vessels qualify: benefit, low. From June 10, 2025, a "vessel" includes passenger boats licensed to carry at least 12 people, not 25. This applies to boats licensed by the Public Utilities Commission or the U.S. Coast Guard. - Wider sales of low‑alcohol spirits: benefit, low. Beginning June 10, 2025, beer and wine licensees can also sell low‑alcohol spirits products. State wine rules apply to those items, except chapters 65 and 67. In‑state wholesalers may distribute low‑alcohol spirits. Agency liquor stores acting as reselling agents may sell fortified wine to on‑premi… - Cap on gifts to alcohol licensees: cost, medium. Beginning January 1, 2026, a licensee or applicant may receive up to $750 total per year in cash, gift cards, or other items from makers, distributors, or related businesses. The bureau cannot set a separate limit on items in use if they were given under the $750 cap. Licensees may not give gifts m… - Agency stores can host spirits tastings: mixed, medium. Beginning June 10, 2025, a qualifying agency liquor store can get a purveyor of spirits license and hold unlimited tastings. The license costs $500 one time. The store must stock at least 1,500 product codes and get at least 50% of sales from liquor. Only staff, a licensed sales rep, or a supplier… - New licenses and sponsorships for venues: mixed, medium. Starting June 10, 2025, the state licenses auditorium, stadium, and performing arts venues to sell alcohol through the owner, operator, or the provider. Licensees may sell sealed spirits bottles for club suites if bottles stay in the suite and the suite host signs a promise not to serve anyone unde… - Rules for spirits rebates and inserts: mixed, low. Effective June 10, 2025, any mail‑in rebate, certificate, or merchandise must be put in or attached to the spirits package by the maker or its broker. Manufacturers must redeem mail‑in rebates. A rebate cannot be more than the purchase price and must require the original dated receipt. The commissi… - Restaurants can cater alcohol off‑site: mixed, low. From June 10, 2025, licensed restaurants can get an off‑premises catering license to sell the same liquor types they sell in‑house. The permit costs $10 per calendar day of the event. You may sell only the liquor types allowed by your main license. - Store‑restaurant co‑location and drink rules: mixed, low. Starting June 10, 2025, an off‑premises liquor store can also hold a Class III or IV on‑premises license or a Class A restaurant license for another part of the building. Each area must meet its own license rules, and food must be available whenever drinks are sold for on‑site use. Patrons may not… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Laura Supica (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Timothy Guerrette (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Victoria Doudera (Democratic), House ## Actions (7) - 2025-06-10: Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 230 - 2025-06-03: PASSED TO BE ENACTED - Emergency - 2/3 Elected Required, in concurrence. (Senate) - 2025-06-03: This being an emergency measure, a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the House was necessary.PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-06-02: Report READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-328) READ and ADOPTED, in concurrence.Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-328), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith. (Senate) - 2025-06-02: CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAYUnder suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-328).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-03-21: Carried over, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519. (House) - 2025-02-06: Received by the Clerk of the House on February 6, 2025.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on VETERANS AND LEGAL AFFAIRS pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401. (House) ## Bill text - Amendment C-A (H-328), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0323&item=2&snum=132) - Enacted: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0323&item=3&snum=132) - Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0323&item=1&snum=132) ## Related bills - LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program (failed) - LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families (failed) - LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (failed) - LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan for Retirement (failed) - LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State Employees (failed) - LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit (failed) ## Sources - [Amendment C-A (H-328), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0323&item=2&snum=132) - [Enacted (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0323&item=3&snum=132) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0323&item=1&snum=132) ## Related - [LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1522-132) - [LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1665-132) - [LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retiremen…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1872-132) - [LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD2067-132) - [LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1611-132) - [LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1294-132) - [Maine bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine/bills) - [Maine state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD494-132 (as of 2026-10-17).