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SB 972MARYLANDSession 2026State BillSigned into law

Enacted

Baltimore law authorizes new liquor licenses on West Baltimore Street and North Charles Street and sets alcohol sales hours in specific districts

Original title: Baltimore City - 40th Alcoholic Beverages District - Authorizations and Revisions

Last action · May 26, 2026: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 822Sponsor: Antonio Hayes

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Does

Baltimore City is authorized to issue s for restaurants on the odd side of the 1000 block of West Baltimore Street and the even side of the 800 block of North Charles Street, under specific community agreement conditions. The law also restricts alcohol sales hours between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. in designated areas of the 40th alcoholic beverages district and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Why it matters

Changes licensing availability and operating conditions for businesses within specific commercial corridors in Baltimore City's 40th alcoholic beverages district starting July 1, 2026.

Background

The Board of License Commissioners for Baltimore City regulates alcoholic beverage licensing within the city under the provisions of the Annotated Code of Maryland. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

restaurant license applicants

Applicants seeking Class B beer, wine, and liquor licenses in the specified blocks must execute memorandums of understanding with designated community associations.

Directly affected

alcoholic beverage license holders in the 40th alcoholic beverages district

License holders operating within the newly bounded or revised zones are subject to strict hours of sale limitations between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What new liquor licenses can the Board of License Commissioners issue under this law?

The Board may issue s for a restaurant on the odd side of the 1000 block of West Baltimore Street and on the even side of the 800 block of North Charles Street, subject to specific conditions.

What are the hours of sale restrictions in the affected areas?

For designated license holders in the 40th alcoholic beverages district, hours of sale may not begin before 10 a.m. or end after 10 p.m.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

14 actions

May 26, 2026Governor of MarylandEnrolled
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 822
Apr 10, 2026SenateFloor
Returned Passed
Apr 10, 2026HouseFloor
Third Reading Passed (132-0)
Apr 10, 2026HouseFloor
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
Apr 10, 2026HouseCommittee
Favorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
Mar 23, 2026House
Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m.

Show 8 earlier actions

Mar 20, 2026HouseCommittee
Referred Government, Labor, and Elections
Mar 19, 2026SenateFloor
Third Reading Passed (45-0)
Mar 18, 2026SenateFloor
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
Mar 18, 2026Senate
Favorable with Amendments { 783528/1 Adopted
Mar 18, 2026SenateCommittee
Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance
Mar 6, 2026Senate
Hearing 3/13 at 1:00 p.m.
Mar 4, 2026SenateCommittee
Rereferred to Finance
Feb 14, 2026SenateIntroduced
First Reading Senate Rules

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.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Targeted Licensing and Hour Controls

The legislation uses mandatory community memorandums of understanding as a prerequisite for specific downtown restaurant alcohol licenses while tightening operating hours in defined geographic perimeters.

Board of License Commissioners for Baltimore City Bolton Hill Community Association Hollins Roundhouse Association

Connected Entities

Baltimore City, Hollins Roundhouse Association, Bolton Hill Community Association and 2 more

locationBaltimore City“Geographic jurisdiction for the legislation”Map →

OrganizationHollins Roundhouse Association“Community association executing memorandum of understanding”Map →

OrganizationBolton Hill Community Association“Community association executing memorandum of understanding”Map →

OrganizationMount Vernon – Belvedere Association“Community association executing memorandum of understanding”Map →

OrganizationBoard of License Commissioners for Baltimore City“Issuing alcoholic beverages licenses”Map →

Sources

Open source document

mgaleg.maryland.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance40
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy25
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

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