IndianaCounty fair boards may sell drinks under one-year permits
Starting July 1, 2026, local fair boards may get a one-year permit to sell alcoholic drinks on county fairgrounds, with local government approval when it owns the grounds.
What it does
A local fair board may get a one-year permit to sell alcoholic drinks on county fairgrounds. If a local government owns the grounds, its legislative body must approve the permit.
A permitted fair board may sell drinks by the glass and name licensed vendors to sell them. Certified servers must handle service, and the board must file event and vendor details.
Argument forFair boards could offer drinks through licensed vendors, while minors may be present in areas where drinks are sold.
Argument againstFair boards may have extra work preparing event plans, listing vendors, and updating applications when they add vendors.
More detail
The Alcohol and Tobacco Commission may issue a one-year permit allowing a local fair board to sell alcoholic drinks on county fairgrounds. A local board is the board of an agricultural fair society, association, or corporation organized under Indiana law. If the local board owns the fairgrounds, it must request the permit. If a local government owns the fairgrounds, its legislative body must approve the permit, and the local board must request it. There is no fee for the permit. The board may apply for a new permit each year. The law takes effect July 1, 2026. Each permit lasts one year from its issue date.
A permitted local board may sell drinks by the glass and name licensed vendors to sell them by the glass at board-sponsored events. These rules apply to events sponsored by the local board on the permitted county fairgrounds. Only servers certified under Indiana law may serve drinks. The board must file event dates, a floor plan, and each vendor's name and permit number. It must update its application if it adds vendors. Sales must follow legal hours and commission rules, and the board must prevent sales prohibited by law. The law takes effect July 1, 2026. The permit lasts one year from its issue date.
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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 6Latest
- Feb 24Signed by the Governor Mike BraunBecame Law
- Feb 23Signed by the President of the SenateMajor
- Feb 18Signed by the SpeakerMajor
- Feb 17Signed by the President Pro TemporeMajor
- Feb 17Returned to the Senate without amendmentsMinor
- Feb 16Third reading: passed; Roll Call 247: yeas 66, nays 22Passed House
- Vote recorded SB 23 - Shonkwiler - 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 12Second reading: ordered engrossedMinor
- Feb 10Committee report: do pass, adoptedMinor
- Jan 29First reading: referred to Committee on Public PolicyMinor
- Jan 28Referred to the HouseMinor
- Jan 27Third reading: passed; Roll Call 89: yeas 36, nays 9Passed Senate
- Vote recorded SB 23 - Clark - 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 27House sponsor: Representative Shonkwiler
- Jan 27Cosponsor: Representative Lawson
- Jan 27Senators Busch, Dernulc, Becker, Spencer, Niezgodski added as coauthors
- Jan 26Second reading: ordered engrossedMinor
- Jan 22Senator Walker K added as third author
- Jan 22Committee report: amend do pass, adoptedMinor
- Jan 8Senator Alting added as second author
- Jan 8Senators Rogers, Doriot added as coauthors
- Jan 8Senator Randolph added as coauthor
- 2025
- Dec 8First reading: referred to Committee on Public PolicyMinor
- Dec 8Authored by Senator ClarkIntroduced
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