A new bill at the Arkansas Legislature would address alcohol delivery in the state.
S.B. 284 by Sen. Jane English (R – North Little Rock) would prevent retail liquor stores, microbrewery restaurants, and small breweries from delivering alcohol to private residences in the county where the store is located.
The Arkansas Legislature passed a measure in 2021 that permitted these types of alcohol deliveries in the state.
On Wednesday the Arkansas Senate passed a measure that could expand public drinking across the state.
H.B. 1024 by Rep. David Ray (R – Maumelle) and Sen. Matt McKee (R – Pearcy) eliminates the provision in Arkansas law that restricts public drinking in “entertainment districts” to cities and towns that collect advertising and promotion taxes on hotels, restaurants, and similar businesses.
The tax provision in current law helps restrict “entertainment districts” to cities and towns where the hospitality and tourism industry is present.
Under H.B. 1024, communities could authorize public drinking in entertainment districts even if the community does not cater toward hospitality and tourism.
That has the potential to expand public drinking across the state.
The bill previously passed the Arkansas House of Representatives. It now goes to Governor Sanders’ desk.
The Following Senators Voted FOR H.B. 1024
J. Boyd
J. Bryant
Caldwell
L. Chesterfield
Crowell
B. Davis
Dees
J. Dotson
J. English
Gilmore
Hester
Hickey
Hill
Irvin
M. Johnson
B. King
G. Leding
F. Love
M. McKee
R. Murdock
C. Penzo
D. Sullivan
C. Tucker
D. Wallace
The Following Senators Voted AGAINST H.B. 1024
A. Clark
K. Hammer
The Following Senators Voted “Present”
J. Payton
J. Petty
The Following Senators Did Not Vote
Flippo
B. Johnson
Rice
G. Stubblefield
The Following Senators Were Excused From Voting on H.B. 1024
J. Dismang
S. Flowers
Stone
The Following State Representatives Voted FOR H.B. 1024
Achor
Andrews
Barker
Beaty Jr.
Bentley
M. Berry
S. Berry
Breaux
Brooks
K. Brown
M. Brown
Burkes
Joey Carr
John Carr
Cavenaugh
Clowney
A. Collins
C. Cooper
Cozart
Crawford
Dalby
Eaves
Ennett
Eubanks
Evans
D. Ferguson
K. Ferguson
C. Fite
L. Fite
V. Flowers
Fortner
Furman
D. Garner
Gazaway
Gonzales
Gramlich
Haak
Hawk
D. Hodges
G. Hodges
Hollowell
Hudson
L. Johnson
Ladyman
Long
Lundstrum
Lynch
Maddox
Magie
McAlindon
McCollum
McCullough
M. McElroy
McGrew
B. McKenzie
S. Meeks
Miller
J. Moore
K. Moore
Nicks
Painter
Pearce
Perry
Pilkington
Puryear
Ray
J. Richardson
Richmond
Rose
Rye
Schulz
Scott
R. Scott Richardson
T. Shephard
Springer
Steimel
Tosh
Underwood
Unger
Vaught
Wardlaw
Warren
Watson
D. Whitaker
Wing
Womack
Wooldridge
The Following State Representatives Voted AGAINST H.B. 1024
Duke
J. Mayberry
McNair
Milligan
Walker
Wooten
The Following State Representative Voted “Present” on H.B. 1024
Above: Sen. McKee presents H.B. 1024 that could expand public drinking in Arkansas.
On Tuesday a bill that could expand public drinking in “entertainment districts” in Arkansas passed in the Senate City, County, and Local Affairs Committee.
H.B. 1024 by Rep. David Ray (R – Maumelle) and Sen. Matt McKee (R – Pearcy) eliminates the provision in Arkansas law that restricts public drinking in “entertainment districts” to cities and towns that collect advertising and promotion taxes on hotels, restaurants, and similar businesses.
The tax provision in current law helps restrict “entertainment districts” to communities where the hospitality and tourism industry is present.
Under H.B. 1024, communities could authorize public drinking in entertainment districts even if the community does not cater toward hospitality and tourism.
That has the potential to expand public drinking across the state.
H.B. 1024 previously failed in the Senate City, County, and Local Affairs Committee.
However, Sen. McKee brought the bill back up for consideration during Tuesday’s committee meeting, and it passed.
Public drinking is a scourge in our state, and H.B. 1024 eliminates an important restriction on communities that conduct public drinking in entertainment districts.
H.B. 1024 now goes to the entire Arkansas Senate for consideration.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
