HB 255 Summary

• Establishes a two-tier licensing system for liquor by the drink sales: state licenses (issued by director of Idaho state police) and municipal licenses (issued by counties and cities) with grandfather rights for existing licenses as of July 1, 2017

• Creates administrative penalties for employees under age 21 selling alcohol, ranging from written warnings to fines of $300-$1,000 depending on employee training status and violation number

• Allows counties and cities to issue municipal licenses for eating establishments and lodging facilities after a 60-day waiting period, unless voters reject by petition and referendum

• Establishes a state license value loss mitigation fund (through June 30, 2022) to reimburse holders who sell existing licenses for less than 50% of their pre-July 2017 value, up to $50,000 per license

• Repeals numerous outdated specialty license provisions (ski resorts, golf courses, theme parks, etc.) and consolidates alcohol beverage control regulations while maintaining existing age restrictions and operational requirements