WashingtonLiquor businesses may share facilities while keeping separate spaces
Liquor licensees may operate separate spaces in a shared facility, and a licensee may lease kitchen use to another person who meets permit requirements.
What it does
Liquor licensees and other businesses may operate from their own spaces in one facility, which may be owned by a licensee or another person.
A liquor licensee may lease kitchen use to another person, but that person must have required permits and licenses before operating there.
Argument forSeparate licensed businesses could operate in one facility, which may give owners and tenants more ways to use shared property.
Argument againstBusinesses sharing a facility could have less freedom in their lease terms because leases cannot share profits or require tenants to serve the owner’s products.
More detail
Liquor licensees and other businesses may operate from separate spaces in one facility. The facility may be owned by a licensee or another person. The facility owner may also be one of the licensees. The board may review agreements to ensure each licensee controls its own space.
A licensee may lease use of its kitchen to another person. The kitchen must be on property owned by a licensee. Before operating there, the other person must have all required permits, approvals, and licenses. Leases cannot share profits or revenue or require the tenant to serve products made by the owner. This does not allow anyone to conduct liquor-related work without the license it requires.
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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
- Mar 24Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 24Chapter 196, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 24Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#5). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 12President signed.Major
- Mar 12Speaker signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 12Passed final passage; yeas, 89; nays, 7; absent, 0; excused, 2.Passed House
- Mar 12House concurred in Senate amendments.
- Mar 6Third reading, passed; yeas, 47; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#34). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 6Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Feb 27Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 24Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 23LC - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 23Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 20Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 8:00 AM.
- Feb 12First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.Minor
- Feb 10Third reading, passed; yeas, 92; nays, 2; absent, 0; excused, 4.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#20). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 10Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 102nd substitute bill substituted (CPB 26).Major
- Feb 6Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 3Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Jan 30Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Jan 30CPB - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Jan 30Executive action taken in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 21Public hearing in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 12Referred to Consumer Protection & Business.Minor
- Jan 12Rules Committee relieved of further consideration.
- Jan 12By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- 2025
- Mar 19Returned to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Mar 10Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 21Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 18CPB - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 18Executive action taken in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 11Public hearing in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 29First reading, referred to Consumer Protection & Business.Introduced
Consumer Protection