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MississippiSB 21432025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Local Option Alcoholic Beverage Control Law; revise definition of "qualified resort area."

Sponsored By: J. Walter Michel (Republican)

Signed by Governor

State AffairsAccountability, Efficiency, TransparencyFinance

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.

Fewer felony barriers for alcohol applicants

Beginning July 1, 2025, some felony convictions no longer automatically block an alcoholic-beverage permit. Violent crimes and state or federal controlled-substance offenses remain disqualifying. The Department of Revenue may consider other felony convictions only after at least 10 years have passed since conviction. Applicants must still meet all other permit qualifications, and approval is not guaranteed.

Alcohol law recognizes Mississippi craft producers

Mississippi's alcohol-control law includes native wines, native spirits, and craft spirits. Beginning July 1, 2025, a craft spirit is a drink made at least partly in Mississippi. Its distillery must be created under Mississippi law and located in the state. A craft distillery is an in-state establishment that makes craft spirits at least partly in Mississippi. These definitions identify qualifying products and producers; they do not provide a specific payment or tax break.

More locations qualify for alcohol sales

The law expands qualified resort areas, opening more locations to alcohol licensing, including some places covered by local dry laws. The listed towns, properties, and facilities must meet their specific geographic, population, use, capacity, and dry-law requirements. One designation includes portions the Department of Revenue approved before July 1, 2020. Another adds land just outside a municipality's south boundary at South Montgomery Street, subject to department approval. Its boundary runs about one mile west, south to Poor House Road, east to South Montgomery Street, then north to the start. Beginning July 1, 2025, several added locations qualify without a separate department declaration. These include the clubhouse, golf course, tennis courts, pools, and related facilities at 333 Fairway Drive in Pontotoc. They also include a facility on the specified 4.16-acre Rankin County parcel and the facility and related property at 305 South Monroe Street in Houston. Two municipalities also qualify: where Mississippi Highway 26 intersects U.S. Highway 11, and where Mississippi Highway 15 meets U.S. Highway 82.

Lamar County parcel loses resort status

Beginning July 1, 2025, a specified Lamar County parcel loses qualified resort area status. The removed land is within the south half of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 14. It is in Township 4 North, Range 15 West. Businesses and property on the described portion lose the designation tied to that area.

Local governments can limit alcohol businesses

Local governments gain authority to set hours, required meal-revenue shares, and location rules for specified alcohol-selling facilities. The law grants authority; it does not itself set hours or revenue percentages. In Oktibbeha County, the authority covers tracts north of Bailey Howell Drive, Lee Boulevard, and Old Mayhew Road. Those tracts must also be east of George Perry Street and south of Mississippi Highway 182, excluding state university property. A separate municipal provision covers a specified mixed-use development and adjacent property. That municipality must be a county seat south of Interstate 10, crossed by U.S. Highway 90, and partly bordered by the Pascagoula River. Its southern boundary must be on the Gulf of Mexico, and its 2010 census population must exceed 22,000. There, officials can set hours, meal-revenue shares, and areas within facilities where alcohol may be sold. Beginning July 1, 2025, listed counties can also adopt hours, meal-revenue, and facility-location rules for their specified resort areas. The covered resort-area items are 6, 21, 24–31, 34–39, 46, 48, 51, 53–56, 58, 59, 61, 63, 64, 66–68, 73, 74, 83, 84, and 93–97.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • J. Walter Michel

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 290 • No: 29

Senate vote • 4/1/2025

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 41 • No: 6 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/1/2025

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 102 • No: 8 • Other: 4

House vote • 3/11/2025

Passed As Amended

Yes: 102 • No: 9 • Other: 4

Senate vote • 2/6/2025

Passed

Yes: 45 • No: 6

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor

    4/10/2025legislature

  2. Enrolled Bill Signed

    4/7/2025House

  3. Enrolled Bill Signed

    4/7/2025Senate

  4. Motion to Reconsider Tabled

    4/2/2025House

  5. Motion to Reconsider Entered (Zuber, Johnson)

    4/1/2025House

  6. Conference Report Adopted

    4/1/2025House

  7. Conference Report Adopted

    4/1/2025Senate

  8. Conference Report Filed

    3/31/2025House

  9. Conference Report Filed

    3/31/2025Senate

  10. Conferees Named Zuber,Yates,Ford (54th)

    3/21/2025House

  11. Conferees Named Harkins,England,Carter

    3/19/2025Senate

  12. Decline to Concur/Invite Conf

    3/13/2025Senate

  13. Returned For Concurrence

    3/12/2025House

  14. Passed As Amended

    3/11/2025House

  15. Amended

    3/11/2025House

  16. Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

    3/4/2025House

  17. DR - TSDPAA: AC To SA

    3/4/2025House

  18. DR - TSDPAA: SA To AC

    3/4/2025House

  19. Referred To State Affairs;Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

    2/14/2025House

  20. Transmitted To House

    2/7/2025Senate

  21. Passed

    2/6/2025Senate

  22. Title Suff Do Pass

    1/30/2025Senate

  23. Referred To Finance

    1/17/2025Senate

Bill Text

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