The Arkansas Senate approved a bill on Wednesday that would allow businesses to hold up to three retail liquor licenses.
The measure, Senate Bill 97, was passed with a 23-10 vote, with Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, sponsoring the bill. Sen. Stephanie Flowers, R-Pine Bluff, voted present.
In response to a question from Sen. Alan Clark, R-Lonsdale, about which businesses sought to acquire multiple licenses, Hester mentioned that several retailers, including Walmart, had expressed interest.
The bill would permit retailers who already hold one liquor license to purchase up to two additional ones. However, it does not increase the total number of liquor permits available. Any existing permit holder seeking additional licenses would be limited to counties with populations of 200,000 or more. Currently, only Pulaski, Benton, and Washington counties meet this population threshold.
Additionally, the bill would prevent liquor permit holders from holding multiple licenses within the same county.
Next, the bill will move to the Arkansas House of Representatives.
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