HB 146-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2023 SESSION

23-0101

08/10

HOUSE BILL 146-FN

AN ACT relative to the closure of state liquor stores.

SPONSORS: Rep. Leishman, Hills. 33; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13

COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs

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ANALYSIS

This bill requires the liquor commission to obtain the prior approval of the fiscal committee of the general court before closing a state liquor store.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

23-0101

08/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

AN ACT relative to the closure of state liquor stores.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1  Closing of State Stores; Fiscal Committee Approval.  Amend RSA 177:2, I to read as follows:

I. The commission may, with the prior approval of the fiscal committee of the general court, close any state liquor store to improve profitability and efficiency. In determining net operating profit or loss, the commission shall adhere to generally accepted accounting principles for both revenues and expenses and shall include an allocation for indirect costs. All information regarding a decision to close any state liquor store shall be made available, by the commission, to the public upon request. The commission shall provide public notice 30 days prior to closing any state liquor store. The commission shall also submit a report of state liquor store closings to the fiscal committee of the general court when store closings occur.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBA

23-0101

12/8/22

HB 146-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to the closure of state liquor stores.

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires the liquor commission to obtain the prior approval of the fiscal committee of the general court before closing a state liquor store.  The Liquor Commission makes the follow statements concerning the fiscal impact of the bill:

• The bill adds a procedural step that will slow the process of store closures, renovations, lease signings, relocations, and consolidations and would delay the Commission’s ability to act quickly in the best interest of the State.
• If approval is not granted to close a store, it could cause the Commission to continue to operate an unprofitable store or a store that is less profitable than one at a potential new relocation.  
• If approval is not granted or delayed by the fiscal committee, the Commission could miss the opportunity to sign a lease at a more profitable location because of the uncertainty.
• One of the reasons for store closures and consolidations is the limited number of employees available to the Commission.  The Commission is not able to open new locations without closing or consolidating locations in order to have adequate staffing at the new location.
• The Commission assumes the bill would result in a significant loss of state revenue, however the Commission is not able to estimate the amount of potential decrease.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Liquor Commission