HB281 Summary

• Allows qualified municipalities with populations of 1,000 or more (excluding Clay, Randolph, and Blount Counties) to schedule wet-dry municipal option elections at any time after a petition is filed, rather than requiring the election be held at the next primary, general, countywide, or municipal election.

• Removes the requirement that a wet-dry election must occur at least 30 days after petition filing and instead allows municipalities to determine the election timing independently.

• Reduces the mandatory waiting period between consecutive wet-dry elections from 720 days to 90 days, allowing municipalities to hold additional elections more frequently.

• Permits county wet-dry elections or special method referendums to be held at any time without regard to the time lapse between prior county option elections.

• Takes effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor.