BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1517

By: Dutton

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law restricts the hours alcoholic beverages can be sold and consumed during a festival, fair, or concert. However, when major events take place, most celebrations extend longer than the time period allowed. For hotel guests who travel to attend the celebrations surrounding these major events, extending the hours for the sale and consumption of alcohol at the hotel in which they're staying will provide for full observance of the event, while giving the hospitality industry a much-needed financial boost after the hardships endured during the Covid-19 pandemic.  H.B. 1517 seeks to address this issue by authorizing alcoholic beverages to be sold and consumed for extended hours within a hotel under certain circumstances.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1517 amends the Alcoholic Beverage Code to authorize the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to extend, on the request of the chief executive officer of a municipality and for a maximum period of 72 hours, the hours during which alcoholic beverages may be sold and consumed in a licensed or permitted premises located in a hotel in the municipality during a special event that is being held in or near the municipality.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.