VirginiaAlcoholic beverage control; food-to-beverage ratio, report.
What it does
Alcoholic beverage control; food-to-beverage ratio; report. Reduces the current 45 percent food-to-beverage ratio for certain mixed beverage licensees. The bill requires that a mixed beverage restaurant, caterer's, or limited caterer's licensee meet or exceed the following: (i) for such licensees with monthly food sales averaging at least $48,000, the food-to-beverage ratio shall not apply; (ii) for such licensees with monthly food sales averaging at least $25,000 but less than $48,000, the food-to-beverage ratio shall meet or exceed 30 percent; and (iii) for such licensees with monthly food sales averaging at least $4,000, but less than $25,000, the food-to-beverage ratio shall meet or exceed 45 percent, except that for any licensee with monthly food sales averaging less than $25,000 with a seating capacity of less than 30 seats and an occupancy permit for less than 60 people total, the food-to-beverage ratio shall meet or exceed 30 percent.
More detail
The bill also requires that restaurants have at least as many seats at tables as at counters. The bill requires the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to collect data regarding the compliance of mixed beverage licensees with the provisions of the bill and the impact of the change to the food-to-beverage ratio on the gross amount of food consumed on a licensee's premises. The bill requires the Authority to report such data to the Chairs of the House Committee on General Laws and the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services by November 1, 2027.
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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
- Apr 13Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 719 (effective 7/1/2026)Became Law
- Mar 10Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 10Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026Minor
- Feb 26Signed by PresidentMajor
- Feb 26Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Feb 26Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB975)
- Feb 26Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB975ER)Major
- Feb 26EnrolledMinor
- Feb 24Passed Senate (35-Y 4-N 0-A)Major
- Vote recorded Reconsider R. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 24Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 24Passed Senate (36-Y 3-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Feb 24Read third timeMinor
- Feb 23Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 23Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 23Rules suspended
- Feb 20Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services (13-Y 2-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social ServicesMinor
- Feb 13Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 13Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB975)
- Feb 12Read third time and passed House (87-Y 10-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB975)
- Feb 11Engrossed by House as amended
- Feb 11committee amendment agreed toMajor
- Feb 11Read second timeMinor
- Feb 10Passed by for the day
- Feb 9Read first timeMinor
- Feb 5Reported from General Laws with amendment(s) (18-Y 3-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from General Laws with amendment(s). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 3Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 3-N)
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 1House subcommittee offered
- Jan 26Assigned HGL sub: ABC/GamingMinor
- Jan 13Referred to Committee on General LawsMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103975DIntroduced