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MississippiSB 28512025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Alcoholic beverages; allow persons to bring onto premises with on-premise retailer's permits in certain qualified resorts.

Sponsored By: Josh Harkins (Republican)

Signed by Governor

State AffairsAccountability, Efficiency, TransparencyFinance

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

10 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Wine shippers face new permit rules

Beginning July 1, 2025, the Direct Wine Shipper permit replaces the wine fulfillment provider permit. Wine manufacturers and fulfillment providers acting for direct wine shippers can qualify; shippers need the permit and must follow Sections 1–9. Fulfillment providers can arrange carrier delivery to consumers. Violations of Sections 1–9 carry civil penalties up to $1,000 per unlawful sale or shipment, replacing the specified misdemeanor punishment. The Department of Revenue can also suspend or revoke direct wine shipper permits and impose authorized civil penalties.

Patrons can bring drinks into resorts

Beginning July 1, 2025, patrons can bring, possess, store, and drink their own alcohol at covered resort businesses. The business must hold an on-premises retailer's permit under subsection (1)(c). This permission applies only in the resort area defined in Section 67-1-5(o)(iii)(18), not every Mississippi resort.

Patrons gain more open-drink access

Beginning July 1, 2025, patrons of covered permit holders can take open drinks off licensed premises within leisure and recreation districts. Covered permits include distillery retailer, native spirit retailer, and direct wine shipper permits. The licensed premises must be inside a district established under Section 67-1-101. Patrons must stay within district boundaries while possessing or drinking the beverage.

Wine buyers gain shipment penalty protection

Beginning July 1, 2025, consumers of legal drinking age are protected from penalties merely for receiving a compliant direct wine shipment. The shipment must comply with Sections 1–9. The consumer must reasonably believe it meets state permit and regulatory requirements. This protection does not cover other conduct or shipments that break those rules.

Event venues can resell craft spirits

Beginning July 1, 2025, permitted event venues can resell craft spirits for drinking on-site during legal hours. The local fire department must confirm in writing that the venue can hold at least 200 people. Most revenue must come from event-related fees, excluding alcohol sales. An unrelated, unaffiliated caterer must serve food, including at least three entrees. Each event can last no more than two consecutive days per week.

Nonprofit events can serve more spirits

Beginning July 1, 2025, nonprofit civic or charitable groups with Class 1 one-day permits can sell craft spirits. They must buy from package retailers in the same county, and customers must drink at the permitted site. Nonprofit theatres with temporary theatre permits can sell native and craft spirits during performances at the named theatre. Theatre permits last up to five days, require purchases from county package retailers, and limit drinking to the premises during performances.

Resort businesses gain alcohol location exceptions

Beginning July 1, 2025, specified resort businesses can sell or store alcohol without distance limits from churches, schools, kindergartens, and funeral homes. One exception covers a National Register historic district that is a qualified resort area. That district must be in a municipality where Mississippi Highways 1 and 8 intersect. Separate exceptions cover the resort areas defined in Section 67-1-5(o)(iii)(83) and (84). These exceptions do not apply statewide.

Retailers can sell more craft spirits

Beginning July 1, 2025, package retailers can sell craft spirits in original, sealed, unopened packages. Customers cannot drink those purchases where they are sold. On-premises retailers can sell craft spirits for drinking at their licensed premises. Existing permit rules and location limits continue to apply.

Spirit makers gain longer festival sales

Beginning July 1, 2025, native spirit, craft spirit, and distilled spirit makers licensed by Mississippi or another state can get Festival Permits. Each permit covers one festival and allows sealed-bottle sales and samples for three consecutive days, up from two. The festival must have at least three vendors selling or distributing goods, and local-option alcohol rules apply. State warehouse purchases are optional, but bypassing the warehouse requires applicable taxes, fees, surcharges, and reports. This festival authorization ends July 1, 2026.

Spirit producers gain more sales locations

Beginning July 1, 2025, a Class 5 craft spirit producer permit authorizes making, importing, bottling, storing, and selling alcoholic liquor. Class 5 manufacturers can get craft spirit retail permits; Class 4 manufacturers can get native spirit retail permits. These retail permits allow drinking on-site and sealed-container sales at distilleries, tasting rooms within five miles, and one permanent satellite tasting room. The satellite must be elsewhere in Mississippi where alcohol sales are allowed. Other suppliers' beverages are allowed for on-site drinking; native spirit mixed drinks have a 20% limit, and craft sales follow local on-premises hours.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Josh Harkins

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 282 • No: 36

Senate vote • 4/1/2025

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 41 • No: 8

House vote • 4/1/2025

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 100 • No: 9 • Other: 5

House vote • 3/11/2025

Passed As Amended

Yes: 95 • No: 15 • Other: 4

Senate vote • 2/6/2025

Passed

Yes: 46 • No: 4 • Other: 1

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,Clark,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

    1/20/2025Senate

Bill Text

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