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TennesseeSB 0308114th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 57, relative to consumption of alcoholic beverages on premises.

Sponsored By: Richard Briggs (Republican)

Became Law

Alcoholic Beverages

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

11 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

New $4,000 tax on urban park centers

Urban park centers covered by this law must pay a $4,000 annual privilege tax. The money goes to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission to run and enforce these rules. This is an added yearly cost for each qualifying site.

Easier alcohol service in shared venues

Beer permits now cover any or all of a facility’s primary premises. The same on-site drinking rules that apply to licensees also apply to beer permit holders. Licensees and franchisees can store alcohol in central areas inside the primary premises if each licensee’s stock is kept in a separate locked cage or room. A facility can hire a third party to run food and drink service. Mixed-use sites permitted for beer can include private residences they manage if each homeowner signs and files a management agreement.

Flexible service across primary premises

A “primary premises” may include non‑contiguous service areas and other licensed spots inside its boundary. Physical barriers are not required if security or other measures stop drinks from leaving the premises. Licensees must file a diagram showing their service areas. Operators may use a sticker with their name on the drink container instead of branded cups. Service may include wine, high‑gravity beer, beer in original containers, and spirit‑based drinks in original containers up to 375 ml and 15% alcohol by volume. Facilities and licensees may get a catering license for events on the premises without a full commercial kitchen. A licensee may ban outside food or drinks in its exclusive area. Each facility is liable only for its own violations.

Golf community licenses and wine lockers

A residential golf community can get a license if it sits on at least 700 acres next to U.S. Highway 431 and runs an 18‑hole course. It must have at least 75 dues‑paying members, each paying at least $5,000 a year, follow non‑discrimination rules, and be in a county with 100,900–101,000 people per the 2020 or later census. Members may keep personal wine lockers on site to store bottles they bring or buy there.

Licenses for golf and recreation centers

Large recreational or golf club sites can qualify if they meet set size, location, and amenity rules (for example, 1.5+ acres in a mixed development, a private golf/social club set up before 2027 with indoor simulators, in a 500,000+ county). The premises may include non‑contiguous areas, and serving may occur across the designated grounds. Facilities may grant franchises, and franchisees are licensees. Physical barriers are not required if security and signs deter drink removal. Sites may sell and serve from golf carts, vehicles, or trailers on the licensed property. A licensed residential golf community may also grant franchises and get a caterer license.

Licensing for big mixed‑use towers

Large mixed‑use buildings with at least 25 floors and 250+ residential spaces, a 50‑seat restaurant, and set location rules in a 500,000+ county can qualify. The licensed area may include halls, elevators, and other passageways, and one license and one beer permit can cover the full designated area with a filed drawing. When only one seller serves in a space, operators may use a sticker on containers instead of labeled cups. The facility may grant food or drink franchises, and franchisees are treated as licensees.

Simpler alcohol service for museums

Museums licensed under the museum rule and their franchisees get easier serving rules. They may use a durable sticker on containers instead of labeled cups, except when the museum and a franchisee serve at the same time in the same space. The museum must file a premises drawing with the state and local beer board, and the same terms apply to its beer permits. One sentence of prior law no longer applies to these museums. The museum or its franchisee may get a caterer license without a full commercial kitchen and may deliver drinks anywhere inside the licensed premises.

New urban park center licenses and rules

The law creates new “urban park center” license paths in large metro counties (500,000+ people). Sites can qualify by being near listed landmarks and having large event spaces (for example, a music hall for 500+, a 1,100+ person venue near a ballpark and river, or a 1962 arena with about 9,700 seats and ~45 events a year). These facilities and their food or drink franchisees are treated as licensees. One license and one beer permit can cover the full property when a premises drawing is filed. A first license needs a city ordinance or resolution, and the city may set tighter outdoor hours. These facilities may sell and serve like a hotel even if the local referendum did not approve on‑premises sales.

License path for star‑named lodge

A new lodge named after a nautical star qualifies if it was established in 2024, sits on at least 35 acres, has 8+ rooms and a common lodge, and is in a county of about 27,300–27,400 people. The operator may file a drawing so one license covers the full property. The lodge may grant food and drink franchises, and franchisees are treated as licensees.

Licenses for RV resort and museum

An RV resort and campground that opened in 2019 on 49.25 acres can qualify if it has resort pools, bath houses, a deli, an event center, about 43,000 sq. ft. of facility space, 32 rooms, and about 157 RV sites, and is in a town with 17,880–17,890 people per the 2020 or later census. A museum can qualify if it is owned and operated by a charitable organization, is in a former U.S. Postal Service building with at least 100,000 sq. ft., and is in a county with a metro government and at least 500,000 people.

More venues can get on‑site licenses

The law adds narrow paths for more venues. A historic hotel (10+ rooms, 50+ seat restaurant, near a navigable waterway, in a 900,000+ county) may grant franchises and use hotel alcohol authorities. A restored farmhouse event venue (established 2018, 23 acres, seats 200, sleeps 27, in a county of about 133,000) qualifies. A private club (in operation 15+ years, about 5 acres, 5,000 sq. ft. clubhouse, full‑time staff, in a county around 247,700–247,800) also qualifies.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Richard Briggs

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Heidi Campbell

    Democrat • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 114 • No: 18

House vote • 4/16/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/16/2025

Yes: 69 • No: 14

Senate vote • 4/14/2025

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/14/2025

Yes: 27 • No: 3

Senate vote • 4/8/2025

SENATE FINANCE, WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/11/2025

SENATE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 362

    5/13/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 05/05/2025

    5/13/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/5/2025Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/23/2025Senate

  5. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/22/2025Senate

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/22/2025Senate

  7. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/22/2025House

  8. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/16/2025House

  9. Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0388)

    4/16/2025House

  10. Passed H., Ayes 69, Nays 14, PNV 5

    4/16/2025House

  11. Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

    4/15/2025House

  12. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 2 - SA0378)

    4/14/2025Senate

  13. Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0111)

    4/14/2025Senate

  14. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 27, Nays 3

    4/14/2025Senate

  15. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    4/14/2025Senate

  16. Sponsor(s) Added.

    4/14/2025Senate

  17. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/14/2025

    4/11/2025Senate

  18. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 1 PNV 1

    4/8/2025Senate

  19. Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee to 4/8/2025

    4/1/2025Senate

  20. Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/8/2025

    4/1/2025Senate

  21. Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/1/2025

    3/25/2025Senate

  22. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

    3/11/2025Senate

  23. Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/11/2025

    3/4/2025Senate

  24. Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

    2/12/2025Senate

  25. Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

    2/10/2025Senate

Bill Text

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