Prohibit New Liquor-Licensed Drug Stores

On and after the effective date of the bill, the bill prohibits the state and local licensing authorities (licensing authorities) from issuing a new liquor-licensed drugstore license (license). Licensing authorities may continue to renew existing licenses.

A person holding a license (licensee) is prohibited from changing the location of, merging, selling, converting, or transferring a license; except that a licensee that holds a license that was issued to an independent pharmacy before January 1, 2025, shall not, on or after the effective date of the bill, change the location of or merge or convert the license but may sell or transfer the license to another licensee that is an independent pharmacy that holds a license or to a person that does not already have a license.

The bill prohibits an owner, part owner, shareholder, or person interested directly or indirectly in a liquor-licensed drugstore from having an interest in more than 8 licenses.

Sections 3 through 7 of the bill make conforming amendments to account for the new restrictions on the license.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)