House Bill 784 Summary

• Adds a new category (item 35) to the definition of "qualified resort area" to include municipalities bordered on their northwestern boundary by the Pearl River, traversed by U.S. Highway 49 and Interstate 20, and located in counties that have voted against coming out from under the dry law.

• Allows municipal governing authorities in such municipalities to regulate qualified resort areas through ordinances specifying hours of operation, minimum revenue percentages from food service, and designated locations for alcoholic beverage sales.

• Requires an election to be held before a municipality can be designated as a qualified resort area under the new item 35 definition, with approval requiring a majority vote of qualified electors upon petition of at least 20% of qualified voters.

• Establishes a 30-day notice requirement to qualified electors before holding an election on whether to establish qualified resort areas in municipalities.

• Takes effect July 1, 2022.