# Virginia HB385: Alcoholic beverage control; operation of government stores, tastings.

Virginia HB385, Alcoholic beverage control; operation of government stores, tastings., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0128)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB385-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB385
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Alcoholic beverage control; operation of government stores, tastings.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-12
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0128)
- Sponsor: Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 7 (209 yes, 8 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 6

## Summary

Alcoholic beverage control; operation of government stores; tastings. Allows an authorized employee of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to conduct an organized tasting event at a government store. The bill also clarifies that any products used in connection with distilled spirits as approved by the Board may be sold at government stores. The bill also removes the option to obtain a permit to purchase certain grain spirits or alcohol with a proof greater than 151 from government stores for commercial or culinary use.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Public input before spirits markup increases: benefit, low. The Authority must give at least 45 days’ public notice before spirits markup changes that raise retail prices. This covers markup increases and changes to the markup formula. It must accept written comments, hold a public meeting for spoken comments, and consider comments before acting. Public inp…
- Distillers avoid fees for tasting-area moves: benefit, low. The Board must waive case fees when a licensed distiller’s employees move spirits from production and storage to the tasting area. The waiver applies at a government store on that distiller’s licensed premises. The law does not state the fee amount.
- Licensed businesses get more payment flexibility: benefit, low. Virginia’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority must accept cash, electronic transfers, credit or debit cards, and checks for licensee purchases. Checks must be payable to the Authority. Payments no longer have to match the exact purchase amount.
- No cooking permits for high-proof spirits: cost, low. Virginia’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board cannot issue cooking-use permits for Class 1 neutral grain spirits above 151 proof. This also covers alcohol above 151 proof without a distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color. Permits remain available for industrial, commercial, or medical use.
- Narrower garnish approval at state stores: cost, low. The law removes garnishes and glass-rim garnishments from products expressly listed for Board approval at government liquor stores. This narrows the Board’s stated approval authority. It does not ban every sale of garnishes.
- Distillery customers get samples with limits: mixed, low. Board-appointed distiller agents can give alcohol samples to people legally allowed to buy alcohol. At government stores on licensed distillery premises, these samples are exempt from the sealed, Board-labeled container rule. Samples must use products made on the licensed or contiguous premises, ex…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 38 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 37 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 91 | 5 |   |
| 2026-01-22 | House | Reported from General Laws with amendment(s) | pass | 20 | 1 |   |
| 2026-01-20 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 8 | 1 |   |

## Actions (30)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0128) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 128 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (House)
- 2026-02-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB385) (House)
- 2026-02-26: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB385ER) (House)
- 2026-02-26: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-02-26: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-24: Passed Senate (38-Y 1-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB385) (House)
- 2026-01-29: Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Read third time and passed House (91-Y 5-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-01-27: Engrossed by House as amended (House)
- 2026-01-27: committee amendments agreed to (House)
- 2026-01-27: Read second time (House)
- 2026-01-26: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-26: Fiscal Impact statement From DPB (1/26/2026 11:07 am) (House)
- 2026-01-22: Reported from General Laws with amendment(s) (20-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-01-20: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-20: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-01-19: Assigned HGL sub: ABC/Gaming (House)
- 2026-01-12: Referred to Committee on General Laws (House)
- 2026-01-12: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100401D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216508.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216507.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-02-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179650.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179649.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2026-01-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095627.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095626.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-01-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094552.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-01-20: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1091903.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092074.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084209.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084207.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216508.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216507.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179650.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179649.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095627.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095626.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094552.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1091903.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092074.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084209.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084207.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB385-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).