Pennsylvania HB 2309: An Act amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the Liquor Code, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, further providing for general powers of board, for restrictions on members of the board and certain employees of Commonwealth, for enforcement and for biennial reports; in licenses and regulations, liquor, alcohol and malt and brewed beverages, further providing for malt and brewed beverages manufacturers', distributors' and importing distributors' licenses, for number and kinds of licenses allowed same licensee, for responsible alcohol management, for surrender of restaurant, eating place retail dispenser, hotel, club, catering club, importing distributor and distributor license for benefit of licensee, for unlawful acts relative to malt or brewed beverages and licensees and for liability of licensees; providing for hemp-derived cannabinoid beverages; establishing the Local Hemp Sharing Fund; and imposing penalties.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3037
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2309
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY MALAGARI, SANCHEZ, MADDEN, GIRAL, HILL-EVANS,
BRENNAN, KINKEAD AND BOROWSKI, MARCH 20, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MARCH 20, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), entitled "An
act relating to alcoholic liquors, alcohol and malt and
brewed beverages; amending, revising, consolidating and
changing the laws relating thereto; regulating and
restricting the manufacture, purchase, sale, possession,
consumption, importation, transportation, furnishing, holding
in bond, holding in storage, traffic in and use of alcoholic
liquors, alcohol and malt and brewed beverages and the
persons engaged or employed therein; defining the powers and
duties of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board; providing
for the establishment and operation of State liquor stores,
for the payment of certain license fees to the respective
municipalities and townships, for the abatement of certain
nuisances and, in certain cases, for search and seizure
without warrant; prescribing penalties and forfeitures;
providing for local option, and repealing existing laws," in
preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, further providing for
general powers of board, for restrictions on members of the
board and certain employees of Commonwealth, for enforcement
and for biennial reports; in licenses and regulations,
liquor, alcohol and malt and brewed beverages, further
providing for malt and brewed beverages manufacturers',
distributors' and importing distributors' licenses, for
number and kinds of licenses allowed same licensee, for
responsible alcohol management, for surrender of restaurant,
eating place retail dispenser, hotel, club, catering club,
importing distributor and distributor license for benefit of
licensee, for unlawful acts relative to malt or brewed
beverages and licensees and for liability of licensees;
providing for hemp-derived cannabinoid beverages;
establishing the Local Hemp Sharing Fund; and imposing
penalties.
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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definitions of "alcohol service personnel,"
"case," "catered function," "container" and "manufacture" in
section 102 of the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known
as the Liquor Code, are amended and the section is amended by
adding definitions to read:
Section 102. Definitions.--The following words or phrases,
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in this section:
* * *
"Alcohol service personnel" shall mean any employe of a
licensee such as a bartender, waiter or, in the case of a
distributor or importing distributor, a salesperson whose
primary responsibility includes the resale, furnishing or
serving of liquor or malt or brewed beverages. It shall also
mean any employe, such as a doorperson, whose primary
responsibility is to ascertain the age of individuals who are
attempting to enter the licensed premises. An employe of an
alcohol licensee, distributor or importing distributor may be
simultaneously considered to be cannabinoid service personnel.
* * *
"Cannabinoid service personnel" shall mean an employe of a
hemp-derived cannabinoid licensee such as a bartender, waiter
or, in the case of a hemp-derived cannabinoid beverage
distributor or hemp-derived cannabinoid beverage importing
distributor, a salesperson whose primary responsibility includes
the resale, furnishing or serving of hemp-derived cannabinoid
beverages. The term shall also mean an employe, such as a
doorperson, whose primary responsibility is to ascertain the age
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of individuals who are attempting to enter the licensed
premises. An employe of a hemp-derived cannabinoid licensee,
hemp-derived cannabinoid beverage distributor or hemp-derived
cannabinoid beverage importing distributor may be simultaneously
considered to be alcohol service personnel.
"Case" shall mean a package prepared by the manufacturer for
sale or distribution of twelve or more original containers
totaling two hundred sixty-four or more fluid ounces of malt or
brewed beverages excepting those packages containing twenty-four
or more original containers each holding seven fluid ounces or
more. In the context of hemp-derived cannabinoid beverages, the
term shall mean a package prepared by the manufacturer for sale
or distribution of four or more final containers, totaling at
least forty-eight fluid ounces of hemp-derived cannabinoid
beverage.
"Catered function" shall mean the furnishing of food prepared
on the premises or brought onto the premises already prepared in
conjunction with alcoholic beverages and hemp-derived
cannabinoid beverages for the accommodat