IndianaIndiana law allows restaurants in named areas to seek alcohol permits
Restaurants in designated parts of Indiana municipalities may qualify for a limited number of permits to sell alcohol for customers to drink on site.
What it does
Restaurants in qualifying areas of named Indiana municipalities may qualify for a limited number of alcohol permits for on-site sales. Each initial permit costs $40,000.
Argument forRestaurants in qualifying downtown areas could have more chances to sell alcohol for customers to drink on site.
Argument againstThe $40,000 fee and limits on changing owners or locations could make these permits costly and harder for restaurant owners to transfer.
More detail
The law allows the alcohol commission to issue a limited number of permits for on-site alcohol sales. The permits cover restaurants in specified parts of Whitestown, Lebanon, Zionsville, Westfield, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Delphi, Warsaw, Syracuse, Schererville, Lafayette, West Lafayette, Michigan City, and Bloomington. Applicants must own or lease a restaurant in a qualifying downtown redevelopment or revitalization area; Michigan City applicants must be in its transit development district. Each initial permit costs $40,000. A municipality may require a written commitment from permit holders. Permits generally cannot change owners or locations. If a qualifying area loses its designation, the permit may be renewed and ownership may change, but the permit must stay at the same premises. If business operations stop at the premises for more than six months, the permit returns to the commission, with no refund or other compensation. The act took effect upon passage under its emergency clause.
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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
- Feb 24Public Law 11Latest
- Feb 24Signed by the Governor Mike BraunBecame Law
- Feb 23Signed by the President of the SenateMajor
- Feb 18Signed by the SpeakerMajor
- Feb 17Returned to the Senate without amendmentsMinor
- Feb 17Signed by the President Pro TemporeMajor
- Feb 16Third reading: passed; Roll Call 250: yeas 79, nays 10Passed House
- Vote recorded SB 89 - VanNatter - 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Representative Novak R added as cosponsor
- Feb 12Second reading: ordered engrossedMinor
- Feb 10Committee report: do pass, adoptedMinor
- Feb 5Representative Olthoff added as cosponsor
- Feb 2Representative VanNatter added as sponsor
- Feb 2Representative Olthoff removed as sponsor
- Jan 29First reading: referred to Committee on Public PolicyMinor
- Jan 28Referred to the HouseMinor
- Jan 27Third reading: passed; Roll Call 92: yeas 39, nays 6Passed Senate
- Vote recorded SB 89 - Dernulc - 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 27Cosponsor: Representative O'Brien
- Jan 27House sponsor: Representative Olthoff
- Jan 27Senator Niemeyer added as second author
- Jan 27Senators Niezgodski, Spencer, Jackson L added as coauthors
- Jan 26Amendment #1 (Pol) prevailed; voice voteMajor
- Jan 26Amendment #2 (Dernulc) prevailed; voice voteMajor
- Jan 26Second reading: amended, ordered engrossedMinor
- Jan 22Committee report: amend do pass, adoptedMinor
- 2025
- Dec 9First reading: referred to Committee on Public PolicyMinor
- Dec 9Authored by Senator DernulcIntroduced
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