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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland creates Class 10 farm distillery license and expands operating rules for farm breweries and distilleries
Last action · May 26, 2026: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 861Sponsor: Jack Bailey
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What This Bill Does
Maryland establishes a new Class 10 farm distillery license and grants the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission exclusive regulatory authority over Class 8 farm breweries and Class 10 farm distilleries, exempting them from certain local zoning restrictions. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Farm breweries and new farm distilleries gain explicit permission to host public events, provide entertainment, and operate free from local zoning limits, while caps and licensing pathways change for alcohol manufacturing and wholesaling.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Class 8 farm brewery license holders
Their operational rules, zoning exemptions, food service standards, and event hosting authorities are modified by the new law.
Class 10 farm distillery license holders
A new licensing category is established for them, granting specific production, sales, wholesaling, and agritourism privileges.
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission
The Commission and its Executive Director receive exclusive regulatory authority over farm breweries and farm distilleries, replacing certain local zoning oversights.
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 activities are permitted under the new Class 10 farm distillery license?
Do local zoning laws apply to Class 8 farm breweries and Class 10 farm distilleries?
What is the maximum annual production limit for a Class 10 farm distillery?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
20 actions- May 26, 2026Governor of MarylandEnrolledApproved by the Governor - Chapter 861
- Apr 13, 2026SenateFloorPassed Enrolled
- Apr 13, 2026SenateFloorThird Reading Passed (44-0)
- Apr 13, 2026SenateFloorSenate Concurs House Amendments
- Apr 13, 2026HouseFloorThird Reading Passed (135-0)
- Apr 9, 2026HouseFloorSecond Reading Passed with Amendments
Show 14 earlier actions
- Apr 9, 2026HouseFavorable with Amendments { 523525/1 Adopted
- Apr 9, 2026HouseCommitteeFavorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
- Mar 26, 2026HouseHearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m.
- Mar 25, 2026HouseReassigned to Government, Labor, and Elections
- Mar 24, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred Rules and Executive Nominations
- Mar 23, 2026SenateFloorThird Reading Passed (43-0)
- Mar 20, 2026SenateFloorSecond Reading Passed with Amendments
- Mar 20, 2026SenateFloor Amendment { 753423/1 (Senator Bailey) Adopted
- Mar 20, 2026SenateFavorable with Amendments { 953928/1 Adopted
- Mar 20, 2026SenateFloorMotion Special Order until Next Session (Senator Bailey) Adopted
- Mar 20, 2026SenateFavorable with Amendments { 953928/1
- Mar 20, 2026SenateCommitteeFavorable with Amendments Report by Finance
- Feb 11, 2026SenateHearing 2/20 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 6, 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.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Shift to State Regulatory Preemption
The legislation removes local zoning jurisdiction over farm breweries and farm distilleries, consolidating regulatory control under the state Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission.
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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