Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Washington Legislature, fetched 2026-08-29. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2476 Chapter 30, Laws of 2026 69TH LEGISLATURE 2026 REGULAR SESSION SPIRITS, BEER, AND WINE THEATER LICENSE—MAXIMUM SEATS EFFECTIVE DATE: June 11, 2026 Passed by the House February 16, 2026 Yeas 81 Nays 15 LAURIE JINKINS Speaker of the House of Representatives Passed by the Senate March 3, 2026 Yeas 38 Nays 10 DENNY HECK President of the Senate CERTIFICATE I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2476 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth. BERNARD DEAN Chief Clerk Chief Clerk Approved March 11, 2026 10:41 AM FILED March 12, 2026 BOB FERGUSON Governor of the State of Washington Secretary of State State of Washington ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2476 Passed Legislature - 2026 Regular Session State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By House Consumer Protection & Business (originally sponsored by Representatives Dufault and Corry) READ FIRST TIME 01/30/26. AN ACT Relating to removing the requirement that a theater may have no more than 120 seats per screen to qualify for a spirits, beer, and wine theater license; and amending RCW 66.24.655. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON: Sec. 1. RCW 66.24.655 and 2025 c 343 s 49 are each amended to read as follows: (1)(a) There is a theater license to sell spirits, beer, including strong beer, or wine, or all, at retail, for consumption on theater premises. A spirits, beer, and wine theater license may be issued only to theaters that have no more than ((120 ))200 seats per screen and that are maintained in a substantial manner as a place for preparing, cooking, and serving complete meals and providing tabletop accommodations for in-theater dining. (b) Requirements for complete meals are the same as those adopted by the board in rules pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW for a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant license authorized by RCW 66.24.400. The annual fee for a spirits, beer, and wine theater license is $2,500. (2) If the theater premises is to be frequented by minors, an alcohol control plan must be submitted to the board at the time of application. The alcohol control plan must be approved by the board and be prominently posted on the premises, prior to minors being allowed. Alcohol control plan measures must include at least: (a) Regular monitoring by staff who have completed an alcohol server training program; (b) Electronic identification scanners used at all points of sale for alcoholic beverage purchases; and (c) Identification checks for all alcoholic beverage purchases regardless of the age of the consumer. (3) For the purposes of this section: (a) "Alcohol control plan" means a written, dated, and signed plan submitted to the board by an applicant or licensee for the entire theater premises, or rooms or areas therein, that shows where and when alcohol is permitted, where and when minors are permitted, and the control measures used to ensure that minors are not able to obtain alcohol or be exposed to environments where drinking alcohol predominates. (b) "Theater" means a place of business where motion pictures or other primarily nonparticipatory entertainment are shown. (4) The board must adopt rules regarding alcohol control plans and necessary control measures to ensure that minors are not able to obtain alcohol or be exposed to areas where drinking alcohol predominates. All alcohol control plans must include a requirement that any person involved in the serving of spirits, beer, and/or wine must have completed a mandatory alcohol server training program. (5)(a) A licensee that is an entity that is exempt from taxation under Title 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3) of the federal internal revenue code of 1986, as amended as of January 1, 2013, may enter into arrangements with a spirits, beer, or wine manufacturer, importer, or distributor for brand advertising at the theater or promotion of events held at the theater. The financial arrangements providing for the brand advertising or promotion of events may not be used as an inducement to purchase the products of the manufacturer, importer, or distributor entering into the arrangement and such arrangements may not result in the exclusion of brands or products of other companies. (b) The arrangements allowed under this subsection (5) are an exception to arrangements prohibited under RCW 66.28.305. The board must monitor the impacts of these arrangements. The board may conduct audits of a licensee and the affiliated business to determine compliance with this subsection (5). Audits may include, but are not limited to: Product selection at the facility; purchase patterns of the licensee; contracts with the spirits, beer, or wine manufacturer, importer, or distributor; and the amount allocated or used for spirits, beer, or wine advertising by the licensee, affiliated business, manufacturer, importer, or distributor under the arrangements. (6) The maximum penalties prescribed by the board in WAC 314-29-020 relating to fines and suspensions are double for violations involving minors or the failure to follow the alcohol control plan with respect to theaters licensed under this section. Passed by the House February 16, 2026. Passed by the Senate March 3, 2026. Approved by the Governor March 11, 2026. Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 12, 2026.
Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.