Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Government Accountability & Oversight Committee

HB 2490

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Establishes that a spirits retail licensee with monthly gross receipts of two hundred thousand dollars or less is exempted from paying a license issuance fee.
Establishes that a spirits retail licensee with monthly gross receipts of three hundred fifty thousand dollars or less must pay a license issuance fee of seven percent of its retail spirits sales revenues.
Establishes that a spirits retail licensee with monthly gross receipts of more than three hundred fifty thousand dollars must pay a license issuance fee of seventeen percent of its retail spirits sales revenues.

Background:

Spirits retailers and the passage of I-1183.

Initiative Measure No. 1183 (I-1183), passed by the voters in November 2011, transferred the responsibility for the distribution and retail sale of spirits (i.e., hard liquor) from the Liquor Control Board (LCB) to the private sector. Following the passage of I-1183, those private businesses licensed by the LCB to sell spirits at the retail level were designated as "spirits retail licensees." Such licensees generally fall into two categories: (1) Grocery stores and other large retail establishments encompassing at least ten thousand feet of retail space; and (2) smaller liquor stores that are either former state owned liquor stores or former "contract liquor stores" that sold liquor on behalf of the state pursuant to contracts with the LCB prior to the passage of I-1183.

License issuance fees applicable to spirits retail licensees.

Large spirits retail licensees, with retail space exceeding ten thousand square feet, must pay to the LCB a license issuance fee equivalent to 17 percent of “all spirit sales revenues under the license. . ." The calculation of this fee includes revenues derived from sales to bars and restaurants and is in addition to any taxes collected on the sales of the spirits.

Beginning on June 30, 2013, former state liquor stores and former contract liquor stores were granted a limited exemption from the payment of the 17 percent license issuance fee for certain types of spirits sales. Specifically, such stores are exempt from payment of the 17 percent fee with respect to spirits sales to those retailers licensed to sell spirits for consumption on the premises (i.e., bars and restaurants).

Once collected by the LCB, license issuance fees are deposited into the Liquor Revolving Fund. Moneys in this fund are used for LCB expenses and "excess funds" are distributed to the state general fund and to cities, towns, and counties.

Summary of Bill:

The license issuance fee for spirits retail licensees who are either former state liquor stores or former contract liquor stores are as follows:

Licensees with monthly gross receipts of two hundred thousand dollars or less are exempted from paying a license issuance fee.
Licensees with monthly gross receipts of three hundred fifty thousand dollars or less must pay a license issuance fee of seven percent of its retail spirits sales revenues.
Licensees with monthly gross receipts of more than three hundred fifty thousand dollars must pay a license issuance fee of seventeen percent of its retail spirits sales revenues.