Senate Bill 303 Summary

• Prohibits the Michigan Liquor Control Commission from denying specially designated distributor or merchant licenses to applicants operating motor vehicle fuel pumps on or adjacent to licensed premises if located in neighborhood shopping centers of at least 50,000 square feet with required parking and maintaining $250,000 minimum inventory (excluding alcohol and fuel).

• Allows fuel pump operations for distributors and merchants in townships with population of 7,000 or less that are not contiguous to other townships, provided applicant maintains $12,500 minimum inventory and obtains township approval by resolution.

• Permits specially designated merchant license holders to operate fuel pumps in northern Michigan counties (at or north of town line 16) immediately upon enactment, with 180-day and 360-day rollout periods for other geographic areas, requiring $20,000 minimum inventory excluding beer, wine, tobacco, consignment items, and fuel.

• Allows persons already holding specially designated licenses at locations where fuel pumps were previously operated to acquire ownership interests in those fuel pump operations.

• Authorizes the commission to transfer specially designated licenses to persons acquiring interests in motor vehicle fuel pumps already operating at the same location as the licensed premises.