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TennesseeSB 1620114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

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

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Alcoholic Beverages

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Event venues gain alcohol licensing access

Three specified event and entertainment properties gain eligibility for the covered alcohol-license category. The 67-acre planned development must include the listed lodging units, outdoor climate-controlled seating for 165, two patios, and a wedding venue seating at least 200. It must offer the specified activities and be in a county with 478,900–479,000 residents. The restaurant, store, and bar established in 2024 must have a two-story building of about 4,800 square feet on less than one acre, with 116 restaurant seats and 24 patio seats. It must host live entertainment and private functions, about seven miles from Tims Ford Lake, in a county with 42,700–42,800 residents. The wedding venue established in 2024 must cover 70 acres, with at least 10,000 square feet of improvements, a grand hall, barn, honeymoon suite, additional large house, and 15 lodging rooms. It must seat 300 plus 130 on the patio, host the specified events, and lie within one mile of the Pigeon River, in a county with 35,900–36,000 residents. All population tests use the 2020 or a later federal census; eligibility does not automatically grant a license.

Historic cigar lounge gains alcohol eligibility

The specified cigar lounge gains eligibility for the covered alcohol-license category. It must have been founded in 2019 and occupy 3,162 square feet in a historic building built in 1900. It must have the stated renovated upstairs, seating on both floors and patios, and social and private events. Its municipality must have 47,350–47,360 residents under the 2020 or a later federal census.

Historic district restaurants gain licensing options

Commercial facilities in a legally defined special historic district can qualify as restaurants for these alcohol-license options. They must meet the remaining statutory restaurant requirements. They can use one license with trade names, serve the public or members and guests, and grant restaurant franchises. Franchise operators count as licensees and can seek catering licenses.

Membership club gains alcohol service options

A qualifying for-profit membership social club gains alcohol-license eligibility, member drink lockers, and food and beverage franchise options. It must be organized under Tennessee law, meet the stated location and former-cabinet-shop criteria, and prepare food or provide catered food. Its county must have more than 900,000 residents under the 2020 or a later federal census. The club cannot discriminate on the law's listed protected grounds. Filed drawings define its alcohol and beer premises, and franchise operators count as licensees.

More alcohol eligibility for specific restaurants

Three specifically described restaurant facilities gain eligibility for the covered alcohol-license category, rather than receiving licenses automatically. The Fairfield Glade restaurant and lounge must have 2,670 square feet, 40 indoor seats, 16 patio seats, and 24 additional seats. It must be east of Stonehenge Drive, in the mall across from the racquet sports complex, in a county with 61,100–61,200 residents. The facility established in 2004 must occupy about 0.82 acres, contain 4,908 square feet, and seat 100, in a municipality with 910–919 residents. The facility established in 2024 must occupy about one acre, contain at least 4,400 square feet, and seat at least 120, in a county with 32,000–32,075 residents. It must be on the U.S. highway leading to the Cumberland Gap tunnel, within four miles south of the Powell River and seven miles north of Norris Lake. All population tests use the 2020 or a later federal census.

More alcohol options for theater venues

The law expands alcohol-license eligibility for the community theater in H. W. Cox Park, established in 1987. Its criteria include about 68 acres, 12,718 square feet, 352 seats, and a municipality with 51,320–51,330 residents. A separate former-theater facility can grant food and drink franchises, including alcohol service, after filing a premises drawing. That facility was established in 2026 on at least 1.5 acres, with about 12,000 square feet, at least 300 seats, and multiple food-and-drink outlets. It must be on U.S. Highway 441, within 400 feet of a cemetery and 250 feet of the stated river bend, in a county with 98,300–98,400 residents. Franchise operators count as licensees and are responsible for their own violations; drink-identification rules apply when multiple licensees serve the same area simultaneously. These operating rules also cover beer permits, and both population tests use the 2020 or a later federal census.

Resort members gain bottle and cigar services

The qualifying premier resort can serve patrons and offer members private drink lockers and bottle service in member-only areas. It can designate a cigar bar or lounge for members and guests age 21 or older. Eligibility includes a county with 478,900–479,000 residents and the stated interstate, river, road, building-size, establishment-year, and member-purchase criteria. The resort must file alcohol and beer premises drawings with state and local officials and take steps to prevent overconsumption. Food and beverage franchises are allowed, but franchise holders must qualify under this facility category.

Social club gains licenses and cigar space

The qualifying social club can hold licenses authorized by the alcohol chapter and grant franchises for those licenses. It must occupy the specified pre-1910 warehouse building, with a restaurant, lounge, retail space, and simulated-firearms ranges. It must meet the warehouse-history, size, railway, Broadway, and convention-center location criteria, in a metropolitan-government county with at least 500,000 residents. That population test uses the 2020 or a later federal census, and the club can serve the public or members and guests. Members and guests can smoke cigars in a licensed balcony or outdoor area, with reasonable steps to keep smoke out of indoor areas.

Three golf facilities gain alcohol eligibility

The law makes three specifically described golf facilities eligible for the covered alcohol-license category; it does not grant licenses automatically. The public nine-hole club must cover about 62 acres beside the Harpeth River, with a 1,600-square-foot clubhouse, pro shop, and facilities seating 10. Its municipality must have 83,450–83,460 residents. The 178-acre Arthur Hills facility must have an 18-hole course, driving range, practice facility, restaurant and bar, about a 4,500-square-foot clubhouse, and a 3,000-square-foot event barn. Its restaurant must seat 40, plus 15 on the patio; it must span the French Broad River and lie partly in a county with 478,900–479,000 residents. The private club established in 1959 must have an 18-hole course, pool, tennis, pickleball and basketball courts, plus clubhouse dining and year-round social activities. It must be within 500 feet of the stated Duck River bend and 4,000 feet of the memorial to a horse that died in 1912, in a county with 50,200–50,300 residents. All population tests use the 2020 or a later federal census.

Waterside resorts gain alcohol licensing access

A specified Dale Hollow marina and rafting resort gain eligibility for the covered alcohol-license category. The marina must offer boating services, 28 lodging units with 90 beds, a restaurant seating 80, and patio seating for 40. It must host boat shows and fishing tournaments, offer rentals and water sports, and sit beside the L.B. Hassler Memorial Bridge off State Highway 111. Its county must have 5,000–5,100 residents. The rafting resort must have been established in 2011 on five acres, with a main building of about 2,000 square feet and 25 rental cabins with 100 beds. It must offer food, camping, rafting, hiking, weddings, and music festivals, with access to the Appalachian Trail and Nolichucky River. Its county must have 17,900–17,935 residents; both population tests use the 2020 or a later federal census.

Restaurant license faces deadline and ownership limits

The Alcoholic Beverage Commission must approve this facility-specific restaurant application before December 31, 2026. The restaurant must have the specified kitchen and dining room, seat at least 40 at tables, and have the same owner in the same building since at least 2007. Its county must have 15,800–15,850 residents under the 2020 or a later federal census. The stated federal-highway and North Suck Creek, Sequatchie River, and Tennessee River location limits also apply. A license issued through this provision cannot be amended to change the license holder's ownership.

Senior facilities gain alcohol options with safeguards

Two specifically defined senior-living facilities gain alcohol-service options, with separate rules for each. The retirement center must be south of Interstate 440 and west of Hillsboro Pike, on at least 0.9 acres in a metropolitan-government county with more than 500,000 residents. It must have a full-service restaurant seating at least 100, other dining options, specified amenities, and at least 100 apartments spanning independent living, assisted living, and memory care. It can designate outdoor and independently operated areas, deliver drinks within licensed premises, and franchise or contract service; independent operators must lock their stock separately. Spirit-based drinks served there in original containers cannot exceed 475 ml or 15% alcohol by volume. The separate senior-living and restaurant facility can use a manager, provide resident-only drink lockers and reduced-price happy hours, and obtain a catering license. It must meet its stated property and location criteria, file a premises drawing, provide security, and follow age and overconsumption safeguards. Happy-hour alcohol charges can be included in monthly food and drink bills only above the licensed wholesaler's purchase cost, with sales and liquor-by-the-drink taxes paid.

Dealership alcohol options carry operating safeguards

The qualifying luxury and performance dealership can license overlapping or separate service areas, including areas across streets or rights-of-way. It must cover at least five acres near the northeast corner of Columbia Avenue and Alpha Drive. Its county must have 247,700–247,800 residents under the 2020 or a later federal census. Operators can franchise service, use third-party management, and get event catering licenses without a full commercial kitchen; other catering requirements remain. They must file service-area diagrams, follow drink-identification rules, prevent alcohol from leaving through adequate security when barriers are absent, and lock each licensee's stock separately in shared storage. Each licensee remains responsible for its own violations, and the premises rules also cover beer permits.

District businesses gain catering with local oversight

Eligible central-business-district establishments can license separate service areas, deliver drinks within licensed premises, and obtain catering licenses without a full commercial kitchen. The home rule municipality must have 190,700–190,800 residents under the 2020 or a later federal census. Premises must cover at least 1.5 acres within Wall Avenue, Strong Street, Walnut Street, and Union Avenue. Service areas must meet the stated 3,500-foot Tennessee River and 1,000-foot geographic-center limits, and operators must file diagrams with state and local beer officials. The municipality can regulate special-event shared areas through limits on days, times, duration, insurance, and other protective requirements.

Historic venue gains access with renewal fees

The qualifying historic venue can get an initial liquor-by-the-drink license without a minimum food-revenue share. It must seat at least 40, serve drinks during regular hours, and offer a prepared-food menu. It must occupy the specified attached pre-Civil War brick structure and joined properties, meeting the stated waterfront and landmark distances. Its metropolitan-government county must have at least 500,000 residents under the 2020 or a later federal census. The venue can use franchises, multiple licenses, shared inventory and locked storage, joint management, and member areas; specified original containers or identifying stickers can satisfy drink-identification rules. At renewal, it must pay the applicable statutory fee when prior-year food sales are 50% or less of alcohol sales; no fee amount is supplied.

Development businesses gain shared alcohol service

Qualifying restaurants, limited-service restaurants, and hotels in the specified mixed-use development can serve drinks in shared and separate areas. The site must cover about 2.5 acres and have at least six residential, office, hotel, or retail structures. Its parcels must be under common control when the law takes effect, but later owners need not remain under common control. The site controller and operators must file premises drawings with state officials and, for licensed areas, the municipal beer board. Operators can franchise service, deliver drinks to shared areas, and serve residences in the same building without catering procedures. Shared-area service must follow the controller's restrictions, use adequate deterrents when barriers are absent, and meet drink-identification requirements; identifying stickers are accepted. Each licensee is responsible for its own violations rather than another licensee's violations.

Development restaurants gain options with fees

Qualifying restaurants in the specified shopping and residential development can use one license with trade names and grant franchises. The completed development, which can be built in phases, must have at least two residential towers, seven retail structures, and more than 700,000 square feet. It must meet the stated historic-property, creek, city hall, school, green-space, walkway, and greenway criteria in a metropolitan-government county with at least 500,000 residents under the 2020 or a later federal census. Restaurants must meet restaurant or limited-service restaurant requirements and file premises drawings; they can deliver drinks across licensed areas and use security or signs instead of barriers. Franchise operators count as licensees, pay separate license fees, and can seek catering licenses. At renewal, the applicable statutory fee is required when prior-year food sales are 50% or less of alcohol sales; the supplied provisions give no fee amount.

Hotel alcohol flexibility carries compliance duties

The qualifying hotel can franchise food and drink service, use separate licensed areas, share management resources, and conduct hotel-authorized alcohol activities. It must have opened before 2022, contain more than 300 rooms, and regularly serve meals in a dining room seating at least 50. It must have an exterior L-shaped pool and more than 10,000 square feet of outdoor deck, mainly on the second floor. The stated street, music-venue, railyard, and interstate criteria also apply, in a metropolitan-government county with at least 500,000 residents. Inventory exchanges require clear records and payment of applicable taxes; shared storage must keep each operator's stock separately locked. The law sets strict and allocated liability rules, requires information identifying potentially liable operators, and requires drink identification when multiple licensees serve simultaneously.

Passenger boats face local alcohol limits

Qualifying commercial passenger boat companies can operate one or more vessels for hire on navigable waters. Covered vessels must have U.S. Coast Guard certification to carry at least 50 passengers. Operators are limited to counties with populations over 285,000, 83,300–83,400, or 160,600–160,700, using the statute's specified census years. They cannot sell alcohol or beer while docked within a locality that has not approved those sales. Storage within the vessel's county is allowed only in localities that have approved sales.

Residential venues gain alcohol service with accountability

The specified lodging development can serve alcohol and beer in residential units and amenity areas, including structures separated by rights-of-way. Once built, including phased construction, it must have at least 70 residential units, managed paid stays, a pool, pool-side refreshment stand, green space, general store, and wedding or event venue. It must meet the stated river, ravine, stormwater, football-practice-dome, and religious-college location criteria, in a metropolitan-government county with at least 500,000 residents. A separate qualifying high-rise can serve residences and residential amenities in the same building without a catering license or event notice. That high-rise must meet its specified building, room, dining, and location criteria, in a metropolitan-government county with more than 500,000 residents. Both facilities gain franchise and hotel-related alcohol options, and their population tests use the 2020 or a later federal census. High-rise licensees can use outside managers and serve drinks prepared by another licensee, but remain subject to citations, suspension, or revocation for resulting violations. Drink-identification rules apply when multiple licensees serve the same high-rise area at the same time.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 108 • No: 16

House vote • 4/21/2026

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026

Yes: 69 • No: 13

Senate vote • 4/14/2026

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/14/2026

Yes: 24 • No: 2

Senate vote • 3/31/2026

SENATE FINANCE, WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

Yes: 8 • No: 1

Senate vote • 2/24/2026

SENATE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date(s) 05/22/2026

    5/27/2026

  2. Pub. Ch. 1074

    5/27/2026

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/22/2026Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    5/11/2026Senate

  5. Signed by H. Speaker

    5/7/2026House

  6. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/30/2026Senate

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/27/2026Senate

  8. Passed H., Ayes 69, Nays 13, PNV 5

    4/21/2026House

  9. Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA1095)

    4/21/2026House

  10. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/21/2026House

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

    4/16/2026House

  12. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    4/14/2026Senate

  13. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 24, Nays 2, PNV 2

    4/14/2026Senate

  14. Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0508)

    4/14/2026Senate

  15. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 2 - SA0941)

    4/14/2026Senate

  16. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/14/2026

    4/10/2026Senate

  17. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 1 PNV 2

    3/31/2026Senate

  18. Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 3/31/2026

    3/24/2026Senate

  19. Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee to 3/31/2026

    3/24/2026Senate

  20. Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 3/24/2026

    3/17/2026Senate

  21. Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee to 3/24/2026

    3/17/2026Senate

  22. Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

    3/10/2026Senate

  23. Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 7, Nays 0 PNV 0

    2/24/2026Senate

  24. Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 2/24/2026

    2/17/2026Senate

  25. Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 2/24/2026

    2/17/2026Senate

Bill Text

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