Virginia SB 620: Va. ABC Authority; permitting of retail tobacco product retailers, etc.

Bill Text

2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26103534D

SENATE BILL NO. 620

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 14, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 4.1-100, 4.1-103, 4.1-103.01, 4.1-204, 4.1-229, 15.2-912.4, 18.2-246.8, 18.2-371.2, 18.2-371.2:1, 18.2-391, 58.1-1021.04:1, and 59.1-200 of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 2 of Title 4.1 an article numbered 4, consisting of sections numbered 4.1-241 through 4.1-254, and by adding in Chapter 3 of Title 4.1 an article numbered 4, consisting of sections numbered 4.1-355 through 4.1-368; and to repeal §§ 58.1-1021.06 through 58.1-1021.09 and Chapter 23.2 (§§ 59.1-293.10 through 59.1-293.22) of Title 59.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority; permitting of retail tobacco product retailers; purchase, possession, and sale of retail tobacco products; penalties; report.

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Patrons—Ebbin and VanValkenburg; Delegate: Hope

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Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 4.1-100, 4.1-103, 4.1-103.01, 4.1-204, 4.1-229, 15.2-912.4, 18.2-246.8, 18.2-371.2, 18.2-371.2:1, 18.2-391, 58.1-1021.04:1, and 59.1-200 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 2 of Title 4.1 an article numbered 4, consisting of sections numbered 4.1-241 through 4.1-254, and by adding in Chapter 3 of Title 4.1 an article numbered 4, consisting of sections numbered 4.1-355 through 4.1-368, as follows:

§ 4.1-100. Definitions.

As used in this subtitle, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Alcohol" means the product known as ethyl or grain alcohol obtained by distillation of any fermented liquor, rectified either once or more often, whatever the origin, and shall include synthetic ethyl alcohol, but shall does not include methyl alcohol and alcohol completely denatured in accordance with formulas approved by the government of the United States.

"Alcohol vaporizing device" means any device, machine, or process that mixes any alcoholic beverages with pure oxygen or other gas to produce a vaporized product for the purpose of consumption by inhalation.

"Alcoholic beverages" includes alcohol, spirits, wine, and beer, and any one or more of such varieties containing one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume, including mixed alcoholic beverages, and every liquid or solid, powder or crystal, patented or not, containing alcohol, spirits, wine, or beer and capable of being consumed by a human being. Any liquid or solid containing more than one of the four varieties shall be considered as belonging to that variety which has the higher percentage of alcohol, however obtained, according to the order in which they are set forth in this definition; except that beer may be manufactured to include flavoring materials and other nonbeverage ingredients containing alcohol, as long as no more than 49 percent of the overall alcohol content of the finished product is derived from the addition of flavors and other nonbeverage ingredients containing alcohol for products with an alcohol content of no more than six percent by volume; or, in the case of products with an alcohol content of more than six percent by volume, as long as no more than one and one-half percent of the volume of the finished product consists of alcohol derived from added flavors and other nonbeverage ingredients containing alcohol.

"Arts venue" means a commercial or nonprofit establishment that is open to the public and in which works of art are sold or displayed.

"Authority" means the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority created pursuant to this subtitle.

"Barrel" means any container or vessel having a capacity of more than 43 ounces.

"Bed and breakfast establishment" means any establishment (i) having no more than 15 bedrooms; (ii) offering to the public, for compensation, transitory lodging or sleeping accommodations; and (iii) offering at least one meal per day, which may but need not be breakfast, to each person to whom overnight lodging is provided. For purposes of the licensing requirements of this subtitle, "bed and breakfast establishment" includes any property offered to the public for short-term rental, as that term is defined in § 15.2-983, other than a hotel as defined in this section, regardless of whether a meal is offered to each person to whom overnight lodging is provided.

"Beer" means any alcoholic beverage obtained by the fermentation of an infusion or decoction of barley, malt, and hops or of any similar products in drinkable water and containing one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume.

"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority.

"Bottle" means any vessel intended to contain liquids and having a capacity of not more than 43 ounces.

"Bus" means a motor vehicle that (i) is operated by a common carri