H.B. 137 Summary

• Removes county liquor commissions' authority to enforce liquor tax law (Chapter 244D) and redirects tax violations to the director of taxation for investigation.

• Eliminates liquor commission authority to conduct warrantless inspections for liquor tax law violations and removes their access to dealer tax records.

• Requires all liquor license applications to be notarized instead of sworn under oath.

• Removes the liquor commission investigator's discretion to deny licenses based on whether applicants are "fit and proper" persons to hold a license.

• Eliminates requirement that investigator reports include "any and all matters" relevant to the application, narrowing the scope of investigative findings presented to the liquor commission.

• Effective January 1, 2023.