Pennsylvania SB 21: 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 Office of Administrative Law Judge; in licenses and regulations and liquor, alcohol and malt and brewed beverages, further providing for hearings upon refusal of licenses, renewals or transfers and appeals, for renewal of licenses and temporary provisions for licensees in armed service, providing for failure to maintain minimum requirements for licensure and further providing for revocation and suspension of licenses and fines, for applicants to provide State tax identification numbers and statement of State tax status, waiver of confidentiality of information in the possession of the Department of Revenue and other departments and review of State tax status and for rights of municipalities preserved; in distilleries, wineries, bonded warehouses, bailees for hire and transporters for hire, further providing for appeals; and imposing penalties.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 689
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 21
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY A. WILLIAMS, FARRY, STREET, COSTA, BOSCOLA, SAVAL,
SANTARSIERO, KEARNEY AND FONTANA, APRIL 28, 2025
REFERRED TO LAW AND JUSTICE, APRIL 28, 2025
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
Office of Administrative Law Judge; in licenses and
regulations and liquor, alcohol and malt and brewed
beverages, further providing for hearings upon refusal of
licenses, renewals or transfers and appeals, for renewal of
licenses and temporary provisions for licensees in armed
service, providing for failure to maintain minimum
requirements for licensure and further providing for
revocation and suspension of licenses and fines, for
applicants to provide State tax identification numbers and
statement of State tax status, waiver of confidentiality of
information in the possession of the Department of Revenue
and other departments and review of State tax status and for
rights of municipalities preserved; in distilleries,
wineries, bonded warehouses, bailees for hire and
transporters for hire, further providing for appeals; and
imposing penalties.
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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definitions of "eating place," "hotel" and
"restaurant" 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 a definition 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:
* * *
"Eating place" shall mean a premise where substantial food
[is] offerings sufficient to constitute a meal are regularly and
customarily prepared on premises or procured from a third party
and sold, having a total area of not less than three hundred
square feet available to the public in one or more rooms, other
than living quarters, and equipped with tables and chairs,
including bar seats, accommodating thirty persons at one time
which must be accessible and available for use during any hour
alcoholic beverages are served. The board shall, by regulation,
set forth what constitutes tables and chairs sufficient to
accommodate thirty persons at one time.
* * *
"Hotel" shall mean any reputable place operated by
responsible persons of good reputation where the public may, for
a consideration, obtain sleeping accommodations and meals and
which, in a city, has at least ten, and in any other place at
least six, permanent bedrooms for the use of guests, a public
dining room or rooms operated by the same management
accommodating at least thirty persons at one time, and a
kitchen, apart from the public dining room or rooms, in which
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[food is] substantial food offerings sufficient to constitute a
meal are regularly prepared for the public.
* * *
"Restaurant" shall mean a reputable place operated by
responsible persons of good reputation and habitually and
principally used for the purpose of providing substantial food
offerings sufficient to constitute a meal, prepared on premises
or procured off-premises from a third party, for the public, the
place to have an area within a building of not less than four
hundred square feet, equipped with tables and chairs, including
bar seats, accommodating at least thirty persons at one time
which must be accessible and available for use during any hour
alcoholic beverages are served. The board shall, by regulation,
set forth what constitutes tables and chairs sufficient to
accommodate thirty persons at one time.
* * *
"Substantial food offerings sufficient to constitute a meal"
shall mean two or more entrée options and at least two or more
side options set forth on a printed menu and made rea