All Roll Calls
Yes: 139 • No: 17
UtahS.B. 3282025 General SessionSenate
Alcohol Amendments
Sponsored By: Jerry W Stevenson (Republican)
Signed by Governor
BusinessHotels and Hotel KeepersAlcoholDepartment of Alcoholic Beverage ServicesRevenue and TaxationBeer Tax
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 3 costs, 3 mixed.
Alcohol licensees gain more location flexibility
Beginning May 7, 2025, the commission can approve up to five dispensing locations under one equity license without the former private-roadway condition. The licensee must manage or operate and own or lease those locations, with shared leadership or management. Members of any one location must have access to all locations under the license. On-premise banquet licensees can also apply for additional locations that need not adjoin each other or the original location. The department approves those applications using commission-approved guidelines.
Alcohol retailers gain service and tasting flexibility
Beginning May 7, 2025, retailers can skip metered dispensing for qualifying spirituous-liquor drinks poured from original sealed containers into another container. Drinks must be no larger than 12 ounces, with no more than 10% alcohol by volume or 8% by weight. The original container's front label must show alcohol by volume in lettering at least three millimeters high. Retailers can also allow staff age 21 or older to take small straw-test tastes while working to check liquor quality, flavor, and alcohol content.
Businesses gain a narrow park-distance exception
Beginning May 7, 2025, outlets and restaurants can use a narrow exception to alcohol-license distance restrictions near a public park. The park and connected trails must cover at least 12 acres on state-owned land managed by the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority. The local authority's written consent must expressly acknowledge and approve the proposed proximity.
More licensing room for bars and venues
The law raises Utah's bar-license cap over time using 15 plus the state population divided by a fiscal-year number. That number falls from 10,200 before fiscal year 2025 to 9,778 in 2025; 9,356 in 2026; and 8,934 in 2027. It falls to 8,512 in 2028; 8,090 in 2029; 7,668 in 2030; and 7,246 in 2031 and later, subject to other statutory limits. Beginning May 7, 2025, professional sports facilities and concert venues qualify as recreational amenities with at least 2,500 seats, down from 5,000.
Driving privilege cards cannot prove age
Beginning May 7, 2025, you cannot use a Utah driving privilege card to prove age under Utah alcohol law. Businesses must check another acceptable form of age proof.
Alcohol workers face broader administrative enforcement
Beginning May 7, 2025, staff of covered alcohol businesses and package agents can face administrative action under Utah alcohol law. Covered employers include specified licensees, permit holders, manufacturers, suppliers, importers, and certificate holders. This provision does not set a specific penalty amount.
Event organizers must use surety bonds
Beginning May 7, 2025, alcohol event permit applicants must post a surety bond instead of using a cash bond. The bond must be payable to the alcohol department and remain active throughout the permit. The required amount depends on the permit type; this provision does not state the amounts.
Beer pickup expands with safety rules
Beginning May 7, 2025, off-premise beer retailers can offer drive-through, drive-up, and designated parking-stall pickup. Drive-up loading areas must directly adjoin the licensed premises. Parking-stall customers must buy before parking, receive beer directly from the licensed premises, and have their age checked at the stall. Pickup stalls must be clearly marked, have video surveillance, and be on property the retailer owns or legally occupies. Staff handling these sales must meet alcohol-service training requirements.
License denials require consistent treatment
Beginning May 7, 2025, the alcohol commission can deny retail licenses, conditional retail licenses, or sublicenses based on an applicant's violation history. The commission must treat applicants with substantially similar violation histories consistently.
Amphitheaters gain banquet access with rules
Beginning May 7, 2025, qualifying amphitheaters can get on-premise banquet licenses for banquet and room-service alcohol activities. These outdoor, multi-use live-entertainment venues must hold over 10,000 patrons, be in a first-class county, and exclude sporting events and competitions. Licenses remain capped, and the required retail operating rules apply across the entire venue. Banquets must be private or privately sponsored at commission-approved locations, with required contracts and alcohol arrangements. Patrons can also carry beer between adjoining areas where consumption is allowed, when the facility holds both on-premise beer-retailer and banquet licenses.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Jerry W Stevenson
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Karen M. Peterson
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/7/2025
Senate/ concurs with House amendment
Yes: 24 • No: 0
House vote • 3/7/2025
House/ floor amendment
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/7/2025
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 66 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/5/2025
Senate/ motion to reconsider
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/5/2025
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/5/2025
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/5/2025
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Yes: 24 • No: 2
Senate vote • 3/5/2025
Senate/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/4/2025
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/4/2025
Senate/ substitute adoption failed
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/4/2025
Senate/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/4/2025
Senate/ failed
Yes: 13 • No: 15
Senate vote • 3/3/2025
Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 6 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/3/2025
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 6 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/3/2025
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Senate/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Senate/ motion to reconsider
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
House/ floor amendment
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Senate/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Senate/ substitute adoption failed
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/24/2025Senate/ to Governor
3/17/2025SenateSenate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/17/2025SenateSenate/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/14/2025SenateEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/14/2025Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/11/2025Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling
3/11/2025Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
3/8/2025SenateSenate/ received from House
3/8/2025SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/7/2025HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
3/7/2025HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/7/2025HouseSenate/ to House
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ concurs with House amendment
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ received from House
3/7/2025SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/7/2025HouseHouse/ passed 3rd reading
3/7/2025HouseHouse/ floor amendment
3/7/2025HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
3/7/2025HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
3/7/2025HouseHouse/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
3/7/2025HouseHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
3/5/2025HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/5/2025HouseSenate/ to House
3/5/2025Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/14/2025
Amended 3/7/2025 18:03:204
3/7/2025
Substitute #6
3/5/2025
Substitute #4
3/4/2025
Substitute #5
3/4/2025
Substitute #2
2/28/2025
Substitute #3
2/28/2025
Substitute #1
2/27/2025
Introduced
2/24/2025