20250AB__100895CHP INTRODUCED 2025-02-20 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2025-03-24 AMENDED_SENATE 2025-07-01 PASSED_ASSEMBLY 2025-09-03 PASSED_SENATE 2025-09-02 ENROLLED 2025-09-05 CHAPTERED 2025-10-10 APPROVED 2025-10-10 FILED 2025-10-10 2025 AB CHP CHP 0 Introduced by Assembly Member Addis LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Addis

An act to add

Section 23826.23 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to alcoholic beverages. alcoholic beverages Alcoholic beverages: licenses: County of San Luis Obispo. Existing law, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, administered by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, regulates the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages and the granting of licenses for the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages within the state.

Existing law limits the amount of on-sale general licenses that may be issued by the department based on the population of the county in which the licensed premises are located. This bill would provide an exception to the limitation described above by authorizing the issuance of up to additional new original on-sale general licenses for bona fide public eating places in the County of San Luis Obispo. The bill would prohibit the department from issuing more than of these licenses per year.

The bill would specify that a person holding a valid on-sale general license for seasonal business is not prohibited from applying for licenses to be issued pursuant to this authorization. The bill would prohibit transferring the new licenses out of the county or to premises that do not qualify under these provisions. The bill would also prohibit selling or transferring the new licenses for a price greater than the original fee paid by the seller or transferor. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of San Luis Obispo.

MAJORITY NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION

Section 23826.23 is added to the Business and Professions Code , to read: 23826.23. (

a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, in the County of San Luis Obispo, the department may issue no more than a total of additional new original on-sale general licenses for bona fide public eating places. The department shall not issue more than five licenses under this

section per year. (

b) In issuing the licenses provided for in this section, the department shall follow the procedure set forth in

Section 23961. (

c) This

chapter does not prohibit a person that currently holds a valid on-sale general license for seasonal business from applying for an original on-sale general license pursuant to this section. (d)

(1) A license issued under this

section shall not be transferred from one county to another, nor shall it be transferred to any premises not qualifying under this section.

(2) A license issued under this

section shall not be sold or transferred for a price greater than the original fee paid by the seller or transferor. (

e) The department may designate licenses issued pursuant to this

section as on-sale general for special use. This designation does not alter any license privileges or restrictions established by this section.

SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of

Section of

Article IV of the California Constitution because even though population growth has remained steady, tourism in the County of San Luis Obispo has grown exponentially, and tourist demand is driving an increased demand for alcohol licenses.