Sacramento, CA…Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil (D-Jackson) presented Senate Bill (SB) 1028 in the Governmental Organization Committee to address the challenges rural counties in California face with limited on-sale general licenses for bona fide eating places. This legislation also aims to empower local economies and cater to the needs of both residents and tourists.

Under the current system, many counties across California, despite having small permanent populations, struggle to meet the demands of their thriving tourist industries. SB 1028 will authorize the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to issue up to 10 additional on-sale general licenses for bona fide public eating places (Type 47) to counties that have reached their license limit.

The bill recognizes the importance of tourism in many counties’ economies while addressing the gap between demand and supply for Type 47 licenses. By providing counties with the flexibility to accommodate their unique circumstances, SB 1028 ensures that businesses can thrive and communities can continue to grow.

Key provisions of SB 1028 include:

• Authorization for ABC to issue up to 10 additional Type 47 licenses to a county in the calendar year following any year in which the county reached its limit.

• Giving county boards of supervisors the power to limit the number of additional licenses from ABC via resolution, giving local authorities control over licensing in their jurisdictions.

• Allows ABC to track the licenses to ensure they are not being sold for more than they were purchased.

“This legislation is critical for supporting our local economies by generating more revenue, creating more jobs, and catering to a robust tourist population,” said Senator Alvarado-Gil. “SB 1028 will ensure businesses have the tools they need to thrive and communities can continue to grow and prosper.”

“We applaud Senator Alvarado-Gil for introducing SB 1028 to address the inequities of how Type 47 liquor licenses are issued,” said Debbie Manning, President and CEO of the El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce. “The current formula for issuing liquor licenses in sprawling, low-population counties like El Dorado County often leaves such areas at a disadvantage when attracting restaurants to our community.  Today, El Dorado Hills has several current operators that applied and were not awarded. With SB 1028, we can create a stronger workforce while putting El Dorado County on the map of sought-after food destinations,” Manning added.

SB 1028 builds upon previous legislative efforts to address the challenges faced by rural counties in California.

The bill now moves onto the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Senator Alvarado-Gil represents the 4th Senate District including the Counties of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne.
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