MissouriEntertainment districts could allow licensed alcohol sales across shared areas
Qualifying cities could designate entertainment districts where approved licensees sell drinks from businesses or portable bars and customers carry them within the district.
What it does
Qualifying entertainment districts could receive a special alcohol license for sales from licensed businesses and portable bars, with a $300 yearly fee and set hours.
During legal sales hours, customers could carry marked drinks between participating businesses and shared areas inside the district, but not outside its boundaries.
Cities could create qualifying entertainment districts by ordinance and set local conduct and enforcement rules, subject to the bill’s geographic and population limits.
Argument forVisitors could move between participating venues with marked drinks, which may make entertainment areas easier to use without leaving the district.
Argument againstAllowing drinks in shared areas could make enforcement harder because license holders would be responsible for violations beyond their indoor premises.
More detail
Qualified people may apply for an entertainment district special license, and the state alcohol supervisor may issue it. The license applies to an entertainment district in a qualifying city and county that has approved the district by ordinance. Applicants must meet the qualifications and requirements of Missouri alcohol laws. The annual license fee is $300. Sales may come from licensed establishments, including portable bars. The license would allow sales until 1:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 6:00 a.m. Sunday until 1:30 a.m. Monday.
Licensed businesses with the special license may let customers carry and drink alcoholic beverages in other licensed businesses and shared areas within the district. This applies to licensed establishments and common areas inside the entertainment district, including public areas and covered parts of public rights-of-way. Drinks may move only during hours when the licensee may legally sell alcohol. No one may take an alcoholic drink outside the district. Every licensee must use containers marked with its trade name, logo, or another unique mark. The special-license holder is responsible for alcohol violations on its premises, at portable bars, and in common areas. The carry-and-consume permission applies only on days and during hours when the licensee is allowed to sell alcoholic beverages.
A city governing body may designate an entertainment district and adopt procedures, conduct rules, and enforcement rules for it. The district must combine entertainment venues, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, other licensed businesses, and common areas, and must meet specified city, county, and geographic limits. A qualifying district must border or contain a lake with at least 1,000 miles of shoreline and meet stated population limits, or border the Missouri River and meet separate population limits. Local rules must be consistent with this section. The city must designate the district by ordinance before the special district license can apply.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 13Delivered to Secretary of State (G)Latest
- Jul 13Approved by Governor Mike Kehoe (G)Became Law
- May 28Delivered to Governor
- May 28Signed by President Pro Tem (S)
- May 28Signed by House Speaker (H)
- May 12Senate Message (S)
- Vote recorded Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed - AYES: 29 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed - AYES: 29 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Upper
- May 12Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed - AYES: 29 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0Passed Senate
- May 12Taken Up for Third Reading (S)Minor
- May 7Placed on Informal Calendar
- Apr 16Reported Do Pass (S)Minor
- Apr 7Voted Do Pass (S)Minor
- Apr 7Executive Session Held (S)
- Mar 30Public Hearing Held (S)
- Mar 26Public Hearing Scheduled (S) - Monday, March 30, 2026, 2:00 p.m., Senate Lounge-3rd Floor
- Mar 23Second read and referred: Local Government, Elections and Pensions(S)
- Mar 9Reported to the Senate and First Read (S)Minor
- Vote recorded Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 137 NOES: 10 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 9Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 137 NOES: 10 PRESENT: 0Passed House
- Mar 9Taken Up for Third Reading (H)Minor
- Mar 4Perfected (H)
- Mar 4HCS Adopted (H)
- Mar 4Title of Bill - Agreed To
- Mar 4Taken Up for Perfection (H)
- Feb 26Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 6 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0Minor
- Vote recorded Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 6 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 26Voted Do Pass (H)Minor
- Feb 26Executive Session Completed (H)
- Feb 19Referred: Rules - Administrative(H)Minor
- Vote recorded HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 10 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 19HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 10 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0Minor
- Feb 18HCS Voted Do Pass (H)Minor
- Feb 18Executive Session Completed (H)
- Feb 11Public Hearing Completed (H)
- Feb 5Referred: Commerce(H)Minor
- Jan 8Read Second Time (H)Minor
- Jan 7Read First Time (H)
- 2025
- Dec 1Prefiled (H)Introduced
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