HB 2471 — An Act amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the Liquor Code, in licenses and regulations and liquor, alcohol and malt and brewed beverages, further providing for Philadelphia 250 permits.

PRINTER'S NO.     3304

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2471
                                               Session of
                                                 2026

     INTRODUCED BY CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, HILL-EVANS, STEELE, T. DAVIS,
        FREEMAN, MADDEN, SANCHEZ, INGLIS, HANBIDGE, TIBURCIO,
        PASHINSKI, BOYD AND D. WILLIAMS, APRIL 28, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LIQUOR CONTROL, APRIL 29, 2026


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), entitled "An
 2      act relating to alcoholic liquors, alcohol and malt and
 3      brewed beverages; amending, revising, consolidating and
 4      changing the laws relating thereto; regulating and
 5      restricting the manufacture, purchase, sale, possession,
 6      consumption, importation, transportation, furnishing, holding
 7      in bond, holding in storage, traffic in and use of alcoholic
 8      liquors, alcohol and malt and brewed beverages and the
 9      persons engaged or employed therein; defining the powers and
10      duties of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board; providing
11      for the establishment and operation of State liquor stores,
12      for the payment of certain license fees to the respective
13      municipalities and townships, for the abatement of certain
14      nuisances and, in certain cases, for search and seizure
15      without warrant; prescribing penalties and forfeitures;
16      providing for local option, and repealing existing laws," in
17      licenses and regulations and liquor, alcohol and malt and
18      brewed beverages, further providing for Philadelphia 250
19      permits.
20      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
21   hereby enacts as follows:
22      Section 1.    Section 408.17 heading, (a), (b), (c), (d) and
23   (g) of the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the
24   Liquor Code, added March 27, 2026 (P.L.182, No.8), are amended
25   and the section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
26      Section 408.17.    [Philadelphia] Pennsylvania 250 Permits.--
 1   (a)    A restaurant, hotel, retail dispenser, brewery, distillery,
 2   limited distillery or limited winery licensee that is located in
 3   a city of the first class or a municipality that has approved an
 4   ordinance under subsection (g.1) may apply to the board for a
 5   [Philadelphia] Pennsylvania 250 permit subject to the fees,
 6   limitations and privileges provided for in this section.
 7         (b)   An application for a permit under this section shall:
 8         (1)   be filed with the board no less than [thirty] fifteen
 9   days prior to the date on which the applicant intends to begin
10   operating under subsection (e);
11         (2)   include an application fee of five hundred dollars
12   ($500), which shall be deposited by the board into The State
13   Stores Fund;
14         (3)   include confirmation that the licensee has completed a
15   specialized program offered by a city of the first class, if
16   located in a city of the first class, or the board, if located
17   in a municipality that has approved an ordinance under
18   subsection (g.1), to provide training for nighttime safety for
19   patrons and employees; and
20         (4)   be posted on the board's publicly accessible Internet
21   website, including the name and address of the licensed
22   establishment.
23         * * *
24         (c)   The board may not issue a permit under this section if:
25         (1)   [A protest is filed with the board by a city of the
26   first class to the issuance of the permit.] The municipality in
27   which the licensee is located files a protest with the board
28   objecting to the issuance of the permit.
29         (2)   The license of an applicant is:
30         (i)   subject to a pending objection by the Director of the

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 1   Bureau of Licensing or the board under section 470(a.1), until
 2   the matter is decided;
 3      (ii)    suspended under section 1799.6-E of the act of April 9,
 4   1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as "The Fiscal Code";
 5      (iii)   subject to a conditional licensing agreement resulting
 6   from renewal proceedings under section 470; or
 7      (iv)    subject to a pending license suspension under section
 8   471.
 9      (d)    A denial of a permit by the board under subsection (c)
10   shall not be appealable. Any disputes between the [city of the
11   first class] municipality and an applicant or other interested
12   parties regarding protests filed under subsection (c)(1) shall
13   be resolved between those parties and shall not involve the
14   board.
15      * * *
16      (g)    The board may immediately revoke a permit issued under
17   this section if the licensee holding the permit operates outside
18   the scope of the permit as set forth in this section or
19   otherwise abuses the privileges granted by the permit. The
20   enforcement bureau, a [city of the first class] municipality
21   with a Pennsylvania 250 permit holder in its jurisdiction or a
22   local law enforcement agency may make a report to the board
23   requesting the revocation of the permit.
24      (g.1)   A municipality that wishes to allow licensees to apply
25   for Pennsylvania 250 permits shall adopt an ordinance declaring
26   eligibility for a Pennsylvania 250 permit under this section.
27   Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require cities
28   of the first class to pass an ordinance in order to become
29   eligible for permits under this section.
30      * * *

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1     Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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