TennesseeApproved events allow drinks beyond sellers’ licensed areas
During approved events in qualifying counties, customers may drink alcohol and beer beyond a seller’s regular licensed area if they use labeled event cups.
What it does
At approved events in qualifying counties, customers may drink alcohol and beer in the larger event area. Drinks carried beyond a seller’s regular licensed area must be in event-designed cups bought through the designated event permit holder and labeled with the seller’s name.
Argument forCustomers could carry drinks beyond a seller’s usual licensed area during an approved event, with labeled cups showing which seller sold them.
Argument againstThe cup rules could limit customers’ options for carrying drinks, since sellers must use event-designed cups supplied through the organization named in the permit application.
More detail
The law allows customers to drink alcohol and beer in the larger event area during approved events. The rule covers licensed establishments within or next to an event premises in a county with a metropolitan government and a population over 500,000, based on the 2020 or a later federal census. The event must be authorized by a temporary special event zone ordinance and approved by the commission. For drinks carried beyond a seller’s regular licensed area, the drink must be in an event-designed cup bought from the designated event permit holder. Only the organization named in the ordinance and county permit application may sell these cups to the licensed sellers. Each cup must identify the seller that sold the drink. The permission applies for the duration of the event approved by the commission. The act took effect when it became law.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 27Pub. Ch. 1138Latest
- May 27Effective date(s) 05/22/2026
- May 22Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 11Transmitted to Governor for action.To Governor
- May 7Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- May 6Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- May 5Enrolled and ready for signaturesMinor
- Apr 22Concurred, Ayes 26, Nays 4 (Amendment 1 - HA1143)Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment # 1 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 21Subst. for comp. HB.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 21H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA1143)Major
- Apr 21Passed H., as am., Ayes 68, Nays 12, PNV 3Passed House
- Apr 21Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/22/2026
- Apr 20Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
- Apr 15Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0961)
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/15/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 15Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 26, Nays 3, PNV 1Passed Senate
- Apr 15Engrossed; ready for transmission to HouseMinor
- Apr 13Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2026
- Mar 31Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Vote recorded SENATE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 1 PNV 0 3/31/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 31Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 1 PNV 0
- Mar 30Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/31/2026
- Mar 25Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/31/2026
- Mar 5Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government CommitteeMinor
- Mar 2Approved by Delayed Bills Committee
- Mar 2Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Feb 2Filed for introductionMinor
- Feb 2Refer to Senate Delayed Bills CommitteeIntroduced
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