LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 15, 2005

TO:	Honorable Troy Fraser, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1626 by Whitmire (Relating to the petition for ordering a local option election to legalize or prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Alcoholic Beverage Code to require a petition requesting a local option election regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption only, to contain signatures by 35 percent of the registered voters in a subdivision who voted in the most recent gubernatorial election. The bill would take effect immediately if it receives the required two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2005.

Current statute requires the petition to contain signatures of 35 percent of the registered voters in the subdivision. The bill would reduce the number of signatures required, which could increase the likelihood that an election would have to be called.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

458 Alcoholic Beverage Commission

LBB Staff:

JOB, JRO, DLBa