Anne Arundel County - Alcoholic Beverages - Class C (Veterans' Organization) Licenses - Membership, the official text

WES MOORE, Governor                         Ch. 819

Chapter 819

                   (House Bill 727)

AN ACT concerning

Anne Arundel County – Alcoholic Beverages – Class C (Veterans’ Organization)
                                           Licenses – Membership

FOR the purpose of altering the membership criteria for a Class C (veterans’ organization)
         alcoholic beverages license in Anne Arundel County to include certain members of
         the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health
         Service; repealing a requirement that members of the veterans’ organization served
         in a war; and generally relating to alcoholic beverages licenses in Anne Arundel
         County.

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
         Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis
         Section 11–102 and 11–1009(a) and (c)
         Annotated Code of Maryland
         (2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
         Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis
         Section 11–1009(b)
         Annotated Code of Maryland
         (2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)

         SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

                   Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis

11–102.

This title applies only in Anne Arundel County.

11–1009.

(a) There is a Class C (veterans’ organization) license.

         (b) The Board shall issue the license for use by a local unit of a nationwide
nonprofit organization or club that:

                   –1–
Ch. 819  2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND

                (1) is composed only of members who served in the [armed forces of the
United States in a war in which the United States has been engaged] UNIFORMED
SERVICES;

                  (2) has a charter from a national veterans’ organization that was granted
before the application for the license was made;

                  (3) has a bona fide membership of at least 100 individuals and dues of at
least $5 per year per individual; and

                  (4) operates for its members and meets in a clubhouse principally used for
its members.

         (c) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the license authorizes the
license holder to sell beer, wine, and liquor at retail at the place described in the license for
on–premises consumption, including:

         (i) during an event held on the licensed premises; and

         (ii) to a member of the veterans’ organization or a guest of the

member.

                  (2) If the license holder hosts an event for an outside group, the outside
group shall obtain a Class C per diem beer, wine, and liquor license from the Board.

         SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
1, 2026.

Approved by the Governor, May 26, 2026.

         –2–