H 8231Alcohol

Alcoholic Beverages - Licenses Generally

This bill allows the town of Scituate to issue up to three Class A liquor licenses regardless of its population.

Held for study

Population
Affected

Introduced Mar 4, 2026Committee House Municipal Government & Housing

Plain-English Summary

This legislation amends current state law regarding the issuance of liquor licenses. Specifically, it grants the town of Scituate a special exemption from the standard population-based limits for Class A liquor licenses (package stores). Regardless of the town's actual population size, Scituate is expressly authorized to issue a total of three Class A licenses. This adds Scituate to a section of law that previously granted a similar specific exemption to the town of Smithfield.

For younger readers

In Rhode Island, there are rules about how many stores can sell alcohol in a town based on how many people live there. This bill changes the rules just for the town of Scituate. It says that Scituate is allowed to have three stores that sell alcohol to take home (like a liquor store), no matter how many people live in the town. This gives the town permission to have these stores even if the usual math says they shouldn't have that many.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Residents of ScituatePotential business ownersExisting liquor license holdersTown of Scituate administrationDepartment of Business Regulation

Impacted communities

Scituate

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

Liquor License Fees: Amount unknown

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Supports local economic development by allowing for new small business opportunities within the town of Scituate.
Respects the autonomy of the local municipality to determine the appropriate number of businesses for their specific community needs.
Increases convenience for local residents, potentially reducing driving distances to obtain goods, which benefits the community.
Increases the density of alcohol outlets, which some public health advocates argue can correlate with negative social outcomes.
Creates a disjointed legal framework by carving out specific exceptions for individual towns rather than applying a uniform standard statewide.
May prioritize commercial expansion over the preservation of the town's rural character or community wellness.

For Conservatives

Reduces government regulation by removing arbitrary population-based caps on business formation in this specific instance.
Promotes free enterprise and competition by allowing more businesses to enter the local market.
Empowers local government to manage its own commercial landscape rather than adhering to rigid state mandates.
Undermines the rule of law by creating special legislative carve-outs for specific towns rather than enforcing a consistent standard for all.
Expands the availability of alcohol, which may conflict with traditional social values regarding temperance and family environments.
Potentially increases the burden on local law enforcement and emergency services due to increased alcohol availability.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 4 additions

SECTION 1. Section 3-5-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 3-5 entitled "Licenses Generally" is hereby amended to read as follows: 3-5-16. Maximum number of licenses. (a)(1) The department of business regulation shall have the right and power to limit the number of licenses of each class. The limit shall not exceed the maximum number, if any, of any class of license that is fixed by the licensing boards within their respective towns or cities.

(2) The number of Class C licenses in any town or city shall not exceed one for each one thousand (1,000) of its inhabitants.

(3) Every city and town may grant in any year renewals of any license of Class A in operation prior to April 28, 1969, except when renewal of that license is refused for cause, but no further new and original licenses of Class A shall be granted until the number of licenses of Class A outstanding in any city or town has been reduced to less than one for each six thousand (6,000) of its inhabitants (one for each four thousand (4,000) of its inhabitants in any city or town with less than twenty thousand (20,000) inhabitants), as determined by the last census taken under the authority of the United States or the state, by cancellation, revocation, or the failure of holders of those licenses to apply for renewals. After that reduction to less than one for each six thousand (6,000) inhabitants (one for each four thousand (4,000) inhabitants in any town or city with less than twenty thousand (20,000) inhabitants), licenses of Class A may be granted in any year by any city or town only up to a total not exceeding one for each six thousand (6,000) of its inhabitants (one for each four thousand (4,000) of its inhabitants in any town or city with less than twenty thousand (20,000) inhabitants) as determined by census as required in this subsection. However, two (2) Class A licenses may be issued by every city or town of the state irrespective of population and, until the qualified electors of any city or town shall vote to the contrary, one Class A license may be issued in every city or town in this state unless otherwise ordered by the city or town council. Any Class A license issued to or held by a Class E licensee pursuant to the provisions of § 3-7-5 shall be included in the total of, and subject to the limit upon the number of, Class A licenses which may be granted by any city or town under this section.

(b) The transfer of any existing license from the holder of this license to another person shall not be considered as the issuance of a new license under this section.

(c) The several cities and towns, except those cities and towns that had in effect on June 1, 1971, a limit on the number of retailers’ Class B or D licenses, shall not issue any new retailers’ Class B or D licenses until May 1, 1972. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any application filed on or before May 30, 1971.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, irrespective of the population of the town of Smithfield, it is expressly authorized to issue a total of five (5) Class A liquor licenses.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, irrespective of the population of the town of Scituate, it is expressly authorized to issue a total of three (3) Class A liquor licenses.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.