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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland restricts Wicomico County Class A liquor licenses to one per district and ends wholesaler purchasing
Last action · March 11, 2026: Motion Recommit to Committee (Senator Mautz) Adopted
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What This Bill Would Do
Beginning July 1, 2026, Wicomico County will stop issuing new s to restaurants holding s, cap these licenses at one per , and require license holders to buy retail liquor exclusively from the rather than wholesalers.
Restaurant owners and liquor retailers in Wicomico County face a permanent cutoff for new Class A package-goods privileges tied to restaurant licenses and must shift their entire wholesale liquor purchasing inventory to the .
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Wicomico County restaurant owners
Establishments holding Class B licenses lose the ability to obtain new Class A package-goods licenses after July 1, 2026, while existing license holders face strict district caps and mandatory county dispensary purchasing.
Alcoholic beverages wholesalers
Wholesalers lose the statutory authority to sell liquor to Wicomico County Class A retail license holders.
Key Facts
- Existing Class A licenses issued to Class B license holders before July 1, 2026, are grandfathered and may be renewed.
- The total number of Class A licenses is capped at one per county councilmanic district, replacing the prior countywide limit of three.
- License holders are prohibited from purchasing liquor for retail sale from alcoholic beverages wholesalers and must buy exclusively from a county dispensary.
- County dispensaries are statutorily prohibited from charging license holders more than 15% above the wholesale operating cost to the dispensary.
Show all 6 facts
- The annual license fee for the Class A license remains $4,400, paid in addition to any Class B license fees.
- The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can restaurants in Wicomico County still apply for a Class A liquor license after July 1, 2026?
Where must Wicomico County Class A license holders purchase their liquor inventory?
How many Class A licenses are allowed in each councilmanic district?
What else do you want to know?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
7 actions- Mar 11, 2026SenateFloorMotion Recommit to Committee (Senator Mautz) Adopted
- Mar 11, 2026SenateFavorable with Amendments { 673921/1
- Mar 10, 2026SenateFloorMotion Laid Over (Senator Augustine) Adopted
- Mar 10, 2026SenateFavorable with Amendments { 673921/1
- Mar 9, 2026SenateCommitteeFavorable with Amendments Report by Finance
- Feb 11, 2026SenateHearing 2/20 at 1:00 p.m.
Show 1 earlier action
- Jan 28, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Finance
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy30Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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