Arizona Senate bill by Sen. Bolick passes House and Senate amending liquor license regulations

Passed bill authored by State Sen. Shawnna Bolick aims to revise Arizona’s liquor license regulations, including population-based issuance criteria, new fee structures, dual license boundaries, and rules for liquor sampling and application processes, according to the Arizona State Senate.

It passed both chambers as of April 15, clearing the House by a vote of 54-1 and the Senate by a vote of 29-1.

The bill, introduced as SB1424 on Jan. 30, during the first regular session of the 57th Legislature, was formally listed with the short title: ‘liquor sampling; reporting; requirements’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the regulations regarding liquor licenses in Arizona, including criteria for issuance and renewal of bar and liquor store licenses, established by calculating population increases in each county since July 1, 2010. New licenses require an additional issuance fee based on fair market value, determined by professional appraisers. The bill also sets boundaries for issuance and usage of dual licenses—such as a bar and wine store license being issued on the same premises—and institutes rules for liquor sampling privileges. Sampling is restricted to specific amounts and must be recorded accurately, with the information submitted to the department every two weeks. The bill allows consolidation of applications and streamlines processes for applying for multiple licenses concurrently at a single location.

In the House, 23 Democrats and 31 Republicans voted in favor while one Republican opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 13 Democrats and 16 Republicans voted in favor while one Republican voted against it.

Bolick introduced the bill in the Arizona Senate on Jan. 30 during the first regular session of the 57th Legislature.

Bolick graduated from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 1997 with a BA.

Shawnna Bolick is currently serving in the Arizona State Senate, representing the state’s 2nd Senate District. She replaced previous state senator Steve Kaiser in 2023.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Katie Hobbs on April 18.

In Arizona, the legislative process begins when a bill is introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. It is then assigned to one or more committees for discussion and possible amendment. If approved by committee, the bill proceeds to floor debate and voting in both chambers. If both chambers pass the bill, it is sent to the governor, who may sign it into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature. The Arizona Legislature convenes annually in regular session starting the second Monday in January. Lawmakers introduce hundreds of bills each session, though only a portion make it into law. You can learn more about the legislative process on the Arizona State Legislature website.