MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: State Affairs
By: Representative Powell
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 67-1-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO RENOUNCE PROHIBITION AS THE POLICY OF THIS STATE IN FAVOR OF THE LEGAL MANUFACTURE, SALE, DISTRIBUTION AND TRANSPORTATION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, EXCEPT IN COUNTIES THAT VOTE TO INSTITUTE PROHIBITION AFTER HOLDING AN ELECTION ON THE MATTER; TO AMEND SECTIONS 67-1-5, 67-1-7, 67-1-9, 67-1-15, 67-1-16, 67-1-17, 67-1-37, 67-1-51, 67-1-57, 67-1-85, 67-1-91, 67-1-101, 67-9-1, 27-71-15, 27-71-31 AND 97-31-47, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; TO AMEND SECTIONS 67-1-11, 67-1-13 AND 67-1-14, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO AND TO REVISE HOW OFTEN A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY MAY HOLD AN ELECTION ON THE QUESTION OF INSTITUTION PROHIBITION; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 67-1-41, 67-1-65 AND 67-1-72, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH ARE CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE LOCAL OPTION ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL LAW, FOR THE PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 67-3-5, 67-3-7, 67-3-9, 67-3-13 AND 67-3-67, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH ARE CERTAIN SECTIONS REGULATING THE MANUFACTURE, SALE, TRANSPORTATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF LIGHT WINE, LIGHT SPIRIT PRODUCT AND BEER, FOR THE PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 57-26-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH DEFINES CERTAIN TERMS FOR PURPOSES OF THE TOURISM PROJECT SALES TAX INCENTIVE PROGRAM, FOR THE PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 67-1-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-3. From and after January
1, 2025, the policy of this state is * * * declared
to be a renunciation of prohibition in favor of the legal manufacture,
sale, distribution, and transportation of alcoholic beverages * * * in
this state, except in such counties that vote to institute prohibition after holding
an election on the matter. The purpose and intent of this article is to * * * provide the laws under which alcoholic beverages may
be legally sold, manufactured and distributed in this state. However, from and after January 1, 2021, prohibition is
renounced as to the possession of alcoholic beverages. It shall thereafter be
lawful to possess alcoholic beverages throughout the state, unless otherwise
prohibited in this article. Nothing herein shall be construed to make lawful
the possession of alcoholic beverages with the intent to sell except as
authorized under this article.
All laws and parts of laws
in conflict with this article are repealed only to the extent of such conflict;
however, except as is provided in this article, all laws prohibiting the
manufacture, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages, which are not in
conflict with this article shall remain in full force and effect * * *
in counties and municipalities wherein * * * a prohibition on manufacture, sale,
and distribution of alcoholic beverages * * * shall hereafter be authorized
as a result of an election held * * * after January 1, 2025, as * * * provided in this article.
SECTION 2. Section 67-1-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-5. For the purposes of this article and unless otherwise required by the context:
(a) "Alcoholic beverage" means any alcoholic liquid, including wines of more than five percent (5%) of alcohol by weight, capable of being consumed as a beverage by a human being, but shall not include light wine, light spirit product and beer, as defined in Section 67-3-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, but shall include native wines and native spirits. The words "alcoholic beverage" shall not include ethyl alcohol manufactured or distilled solely for fuel purposes or beer of an alcoholic content of more than eight percent (8%) by weight if the beer is legally manufactured in this state for sale in another state.
(b) "Alcohol" means the product of distillation of any fermented liquid, whatever the origin thereof, and includes synthetic ethyl alcohol, but does not include denatured alcohol or wood alcohol.
(c) "Distilled spirits" means any beverage containing more than six percent (6%) of alcohol by weight produced by distillation of fermented grain, starch, molasses or sugar, including dilutions and mixtures of these beverages.
(d) "Wine" or "vinous liquor" means any product obtained from the alcoholic fermentation of the juice of sound, ripe grapes, fruits, honey or berries and made in accordance with the revenue laws of the United States.
(e) "Person" means and includes any individual, partnership, corporation, association or other legal entity whatsoever.
(f) "Manufacturer" means any person engaged in manufacturing, distilling, rectifying, blending or bottling any alcoholic beverage.
(g) "Wholesaler" means any person, other than a manufacturer, engaged in distributing or selling any alcoholic beverage at wholesale for delivery within or without this state when such sale is for the purpose of resale by the purchaser.
(h) "Retailer" means any person who sells, distributes, or offers for sale or distribution, any alcoholic beverage for use or consumption by the purchaser and not for resale.
(i) "State Tax Commission," "commission" or "department" means the Department of Revenue of the State of Mississippi, which shall create a division in its organization to be known as the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division. Any reference to the commission or the department hereafter means the powers and duties of the Department of Revenue with reference to supervision of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.
(j) "Division" means the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the Department of Revenue.
(k) "Municipality" means any incorporated city or town of this state.
(l) "Hotel" means an establishment within a municipality, or within a qualified resort area approved as such by the department, where, in consideration of payment, food and lodging are habitually furnished to travelers and wherein are located at least twenty (20) adequately furnished and completely separate sleeping rooms with adequate facilities that persons usually apply for and receive as overnight accommodations. Hotels in towns or cities of more than twenty-five thousand (25,000) population are similarly defined except that they must have fifty (50) or more sleeping rooms. Any such establishment described in this paragraph with less than fifty (50) beds shall operate one or more regular dining rooms designed to be constantly frequented by customers each day. When used in this article, the word "hotel" shall also be construed to include any establishment that meets the definition of "bed and breakfast inn" as provided in this section.
(m) "Restaurant" means:
(i) A place which is regularly and in a bona fide manner used and kept open for the serving of meals to guests for compensation, which has suitable seating facilities for guests, and which has suitable kitchen facilities connected therewith for cooking an assortment of foods and meals commonly ordered at various hours of the day; the service of such food as sandwiches and salads only shall not be deemed in compliance with this requirement. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, no place shall qualify as a restaurant under this article unless twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the revenue derived from such place shall be from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages, or unless the value of food given to and consumed by customers is equal to twenty-five percent (25%) or more of total revenue; or
(ii) Any privately owned business located in a building in a historic district where the district is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, where the building has a total occupancy rating of not less than one thousand (1,000) and where the business regularly utilizes ten thousand (10,000) square feet or more in the building for live entertainment, including not only the stage, lobby or area where the audience sits and/or stands, but also any other portion of the building necessary for the operation of the business, including any kitchen area, bar area, storage area and office space, but excluding any area for parking. In addition to the other requirements of this subparagraph, the business must also serve food to guests for compensation within the building and derive the majority of its revenue from event-related fees, including, but not limited to, admission fees or ticket sales to live entertainment in the building, and from the rental of all or part of the facilities of the business in the building to another party for a specific event or function.
(n) "Club" means an association or a corporation:
(i) Organized or created under the laws of this state for a period of five (5) years prior to July 1, 1966;
(ii) Organized not primarily for pecuniary profit but for the promotion of some common object other than the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages;
(iii) Maintained by its members through the payment of annual dues;
(iv) Owning, hiring or leasing a building or space in a building of such extent and character as may be suitable and adequate for the reasonable and comfortable use and accommodation of its members and their guests;
(v) The affairs and management of which are conducted by a board of directors, board of governors, executive committee, or similar governing body chosen by the members at a regular meeting held at some periodic interval; and
(vi) No member, officer, agent or employee of which is paid, or directly or indirectly receives, in the form of a salary or other compensation any profit from the distribution or sale of alcoholic beverages to the club or to members or guests of the club beyond such salary or compensation as may be fixed and voted at a proper meeting by the board of directors or other governing body out of the general revenues of the club.
The department may, in its discretion, waive the five-year provision of this paragraph. In order to qualify under this paragraph, a club must file with the department, at the time of its application for a license under this article, two (2) copies of a list of the names and residences of its members and similarly file, within ten (10) days after the election of any additional member, his name and address. Each club applying for a license shall also file with the department at the time of the application a copy of its articles of association, charter of incorporation, bylaws or other instruments governing the business and affairs thereof.
(o) "Qualified resort
area" means any area or locality * * *
in this state commonly known and accepted as a place which regularly and customarily
attracts tourists, vacationists and other transients because of its historical,
scenic or recreational facilities or attractions, or because of other attributes
which regularly and customarily appeal to and attract tourists, vacationists and
other transients in substantial numbers; however, no area or locality shall so qualify
as a resort area until it has been duly and properly approved as such by the department.
The department may not approve an area as a qualified resort area after July 1,
2018, if any portion of such proposed area is located within two (2) miles of a
convent or monastery that is located in a county traversed by Interstate 55 and
U.S. Highway 98. A convent or monastery may waive such distance restrictions in
favor of allowing approval by the department of an area as a qualified resort area.
Such waiver shall be in written form from the owner, the governing body, or the
appropriate officer of the convent or monastery having the authority to execute
such a waiver, and the waiver shall be filed with and verified by the department
before becoming effective.
(i) The department
may approve an area or locality * * *
that is in the process of being developed as a qualified resort area if such area
or locality, when developed, can reasonably be expected to meet the requisites of
the definition of the term "qualified resort area." In such a case, the
status of qualified resort area shall not take effect until completion of the development.
(ii) The term includes any state park which is declared a resort area by the department; however, such declaration may only be initiated in a written request for resort area status made to the department by the Executive Director of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and no permit for the sale of any alcoholic beverage, as defined in this article, except an on-premises retailer's permit, shall be issued for a hotel, restaurant or bed and breakfast inn in such park.
(iii) The term includes:
1. The clubhouses associated with the state park golf courses at the Lefleur's Bluff State Park, the John Kyle State Park, the Percy Quin State Park and the Hugh White State Park;
2. The clubhouse and associated golf course, tennis courts and related facilities and swimming pool and related facilities where the golf course, tennis courts and related facilities and swimming pool and related facilities are adjacent to one or more planned residential developments and the golf course and all such developments collectively include at least seven hundred fifty (750) acres and at least four hundred (400) residential units;
3. Any facility located on property that is a game reserve with restricted access that consists of at least three thousand (3,000) contiguous acres with no public roads and that offers as a service hunts for a fee to overnight guests of the facility;
4. Any facility located on federal property surrounding a lake and designated as a recreational area by the United States Army Corps of Engineers that consists of at least one thousand five hundred (1,500) acres;
5. Any facility that is located in a municipality that is bordered by the Pearl River, traversed by Mississippi Highway 25, adjacent to the boundaries of the Jackson International Airport and is located in a county which has voted before January 1, 2025, against coming out from under the dry law as such law existed before January 1, 2025; however, any such facility may only be located in areas designated by the governing authorities of such municipality;
6. Any municipality with a population in excess of ten thousand (10,000) according to the latest federal decennial census that is located in a county that is bordered by the Pearl River and is not traversed by Interstate Highway 20, with a population in excess of forty-five thousand (45,000) according to the latest federal decennial census;
7. The West Pearl Restaurant Tax District as defined in Chapter 912, Local and Private Laws of 2007;
8. a. Land that is located in any county in which Mississippi Highway 43 and Mississippi Highway 25 intersect and:
A. Owned by the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District, and/or
B. Located within the Reservoir Community District, zoned commercial, east of Old Fannin Road, north of Regatta Drive, south of Spillway Road, west of Hugh Ward Boulevard and accessible by Old Fannin Road, Spillway Road, Spann Drive and/or Lake Vista Place, and/or
C. Located within the Reservoir Community District, zoned commercial, west of Old Fannin Road, south of Spillway Road and extending to the boundary of the corporate limits of the City of Flowood, Mississippi;
b. The board of supervisors of such county, with respect to B and C of item 8.a., may by resolution or other order:
A. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale,
B. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages, and
C. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located;
9. Any facility located on property that is a game reserve with restricted access that consists of at least eight hundred (800) contiguous acres with no public roads, that offers as a service hunts for a fee to overnight guests of the facility, and has accommodations for at least fifty (50) overnight guests;
10. Any facility that:
a. Consists of at least six thousand (6,000) square feet being heated and cooled along with an additional adjacent area that consists of at least two thousand two hundred (2,200) square feet regardless of whether heated and cooled,
b. For a fee is used to host events such as weddings, reunions and conventions,
c. Provides lodging accommodations regardless of whether part of the facility and/or located adjacent to or in close proximity to the facility, and
d. Is located on property that consists of at least thirty (30) contiguous acres;
11. Any facility and related property:
a. Located on property that consists of at least one hundred twenty-five (125) contiguous acres and consisting of an eighteen-hole golf course, and/or located in a facility that consists of at least eight thousand (8,000) square feet being heated and cooled,
b. Used for the purpose of providing meals and hosting events, and
c. Used for the purpose of teaching culinary arts courses and/or turf management and grounds keeping courses, and/or outdoor recreation and leadership courses;
12. Any facility and related property that:
a. Consist of at least eight thousand (8,000) square feet being heated and cooled,
b. For a fee is used to host events,
c. Is used for the purpose of culinary arts courses, and/or live entertainment courses and art performances, and/or outdoor recreation and leadership courses;
13. The clubhouse and associated golf course where the golf course is adjacent to one or more residential developments and the golf course and all such developments collectively include at least two hundred (200) acres and at least one hundred fifty (150) residential units and are located a. in a county that has voted before January 1, 2025, against coming out from under the dry law as such law existed before January 1, 2025; and b. outside of but in close proximity to a municipality in such county which has voted under Section 67-1-14, after January 1, 2013, to come out from under the dry law as such law existed before January 1, 2025;
14. The clubhouse and associated eighteen-hole golf course located in a municipality traversed by Interstate Highway 55 and U.S. Highway 51 that has voted before January 1, 2025, to come out from under the dry law as such law existed before January 1, 2025;
15. a. Land that is planned for mixed-use development and consists of at least two hundred (200) contiguous acres with one or more planned residential developments collectively planned to include at least two hundred (200) residential units when completed, and also including a facility that consists of at least four thousand (4,000) square feet that is not part of such land but is located adjacent to or in close proximity thereto, and which land is located:
A. In a county that has voted before January 1, 2025, to come out from under the dry law as such law existed before January 1, 2025,
B. Outside the corporate limits of any municipality in such county and adjacent to or in close proximity to a golf course located in a municipality in such county, and
C. Within one (1) mile of a state institution of higher learning;
b. The board of supervisors of such county may by resolution or other order:
A. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale,
B. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages, and
C. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located;
16. Any facility with a capacity of five hundred (500) people or more, to be used as a venue for private events, on a tract of land in the Southwest Quarter of Section 33, Township 2 South, Range 7 East, of a county where U.S. Highway 45 and U.S. Highway 72 intersect and that has not voted before January 1, 2025, to come out from under the dry law as such law existed before January 1, 2025;
17. One hundred five (105) contiguous acres, more or less, located in Hinds County, Mississippi, and in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, whereon are constructed a variety of buildings, improvements, grounds or objects for the purpose of holding events thereon to promote agricultural and industrial development in Mississippi;
18. Land that is owned by a state institution of higher learning, and:
a. Located entirely within a county that has elected by majority vote before January 1, 2025, not to permit the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of light wine and beer pursuant to Section 67-3-7, and
b. Adjacent to but outside the incorporated limits of a municipality that has elected by majority vote before January 1, 2025, to permit the sale, receipt, storage and transportation of light wine and beer pursuant to Section 67-3-9.
If any portion of the land described in this item 18 has been declared a qualified resort area by the department before July 1, 2020, then that qualified resort area shall be incorporated into the qualified resort area created by this item 18;
19. Any facility and related property:
a. Used as a flea market or similar venue during a weekend (Saturday and Sunday) immediately preceding the first Monday of a month and having an annual average of at least one thousand (1,000) visitors for each such weekend and five hundred (500) vendors for Saturday of each such weekend, and
b. Located in a county that has not voted before January 1, 2025, to come out from under the dry law as such law existed before January 1, 2025, and outside of but in close proximity to a municipality located in such county and which municipality has voted before January 1, 2025, to come out from under the dry law as such law existed before January 1, 2025;
20. Blocks 1, 2 and 3 of the original town square in any municipality with a population in excess of one thousand five hundred (1,500) according to the latest federal decennial census and which is located in:
a. A county traversed by Interstate 55 and Interstate 20, and
b. A judicial district that has not voted before January 1, 2025, to come out from under the dry law as such law existed before January 1, 2025;
21. Any municipality with a population in excess of two thousand (2,000) according to the latest federal decennial census and in which is located a part of White's Creek Lake and in which U.S. Highway 82 intersects with Mississippi Highway 9 and located in a county that is partially bordered on one (1) side by the Big Black River;
22. A restaurant located on a two-acre tract adjacent to a five-hundred-fifty-acre lake in the northeast corner of a county traversed by U.S. Interstate 55 and U.S. Highway 84;
23. Any tracts of land in Oktibbeha County, situated north of Bailey Howell Drive, Lee Boulevard and Old Mayhew Road, east of George Perry Street and south of Mississippi Highway 182, and not located on the property of a state institution of higher learning; however, the board of supervisors of such county may by resolution or other order:
a. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale;
b. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages; and
c. Designate the areas in which facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale may be located;
24. A municipality in which Mississippi Highway 27 and Mississippi Highway 28 intersect;
25. A municipality through which run Mississippi Highway 35 and Interstate 20;
26. A municipality in which Mississippi Highway 16 and Mississippi Highway 35 intersect;
27. A municipality in which U.S. Highway 82 and Old Highway 61 intersect;
28. A municipality in which Mississippi Highway 8 meets Mississippi Highway 1;
29. A municipality in which U.S. Highway 82 and Mississippi Highway 1 intersect;
30. A municipality in which Mississippi Highway 50 meets Mississippi Highway 9;
31. An area bounded on the north by Pearl Street, on the east by West Street, on the south by Court Street and on the west by Farish Street, within a municipality bordered on the east by the Pearl River and through which run Interstate 20 and Interstate 55;
32. Any facility and related property that:
a. Is contracted for mixed-use development improvements consisting of office and residential space and a restaurant and lounge, partially occupying the renovated space of a four-story commercial building which previously served as a financial institution; and adjacent property to the west consisting of a single-story office building that was originally occupied by the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of American Local Number 569; and
b. Is situated on a tract of land consisting of approximately one and one-tenth (1.10) acres, and the adjacent property to the west consisting of approximately 0.5 acres, located in a municipality which is the seat of county government, situated south of Interstate 10, traversed by U.S. Highway 90, partially bordered on one (1) side by the Pascagoula River and having its most southern boundary bordered by the Gulf of Mexico, with a population greater than twenty-two thousand (22,000) according to the 2010 federal decennial census; however, the governing authorities of such a municipality may by ordinance:
A. Specify the hours of operation of facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale;
B. Specify the percentage of revenue that facilities that offer alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages; and
C. Designate the areas within the facilities in which alcoholic beverages may be offered for sale;
33. Any facility with a maximum capacity of one hundred twenty (120) people that consists of at least three thousand (3,000) square feet being heated and cooled, has a commercial kitchen, has a pavilion that consists of at least nine thousand (9,000) square feet and is located on land more particularly described as follows:
All that part of the East Half of the Northwest Quarter of Section 21, Township 7 South, Range 4 East, Union County, Mississippi, that lies South of Mississippi State Highway 348 right-of-way and containing 19.48 acres, more or less.
ALSO,
The Northeast 38 acres of the Southwest Quarter of Section 21, Township 7 South, Range 4 East, Union County, Mississippi.
ALSO,
The South 81 1/2 acres of the Southwest Quarter of Section 21, Township 7 South, Range 4 East, Union County, Mississippi;
34. A municipality in which U.S. Highway 51 and Mississippi Highway 16 intersect;
35. A municipality in which Interstate 20 passes over Mississippi Highway 15;
36. Any municipality that is bordered in its northwestern boundary by the Pearl River, traversed by U.S. Highway 49 and Interstate 20, and is located in a county which has voted before January 1, 2025, against coming out from under the dry law as such law existed before January 1, 2025;
37. A municipality in which Mississippi Highway 28 and Mississippi Highway 29 North intersect;
38. An area bounded as follows within a municipality through which run Interstate 22 and Mississippi Highway 15: Beginning at a point at the intersection of Bankhead Street and Tallahatchie Trails; then running to a point at the intersection of Tallahatchie Trails and Interstate 22; then running to a point at the intersection of Interstate 22 and Carter Avenue; then running to a point at the intersection of Carter Avenue and Camp Avenue; then running to a point at the intersection of Camp Avenue and King Street; then running to a point at the intersection of King Street and E. Main Street; then running to a point at the intersection of E. Main Street and Camp Avenue; then running to a point at the intersection of Camp Avenue and Highland Street; then running to a point at the intersection of Highland Street and Adams Street; then running to a point at the intersection of Adams Street and Cleveland Street; then running to a point at the intersection of Cleveland Street and N. Railroad Avenue; then running to a point at the intersection of N. Railroad Avenue and McGill Street; then running to a point at the intersection of McGill Street and Snyder Street; then running to a point at the intersection of Snyder Street and Bankhead Street; then running to a point at the intersection of Bankhead Street and Tallahatchie Trails and the point of the beginning;
39. A municipality through which run Mississippi Highway 43 and U.S. Highway 80;
40. The coliseum in a municipality in which U.S. Highway 72 passes over U.S. Highway 45;
41. A piece of property on the northeast corner of the T-intersection where Builders Square Drive meets Mississippi Highway 471;
42. The clubhouse and associated golf course, tennis courts and related facilities and swimming pool and related facilities located on Oaks Country Club Road less than one-half (1/2) mile to the east of Mississippi Highway 15;
43. Any facility located on land more particularly described as follows:
The East Half (E 1/2) of the Southwest Quarter (SW 1/4) of Section 15, Township 3 North, Range 2 East; a 4 acre parcel in the Southwest Corner of the Southwest Quarter (SW 1/4) of the Southeast Quarter (SE 1/4), Section 15, Township 3 North, Range 2 East, running 210 feet east and west and 840 feet running north and south; the Northeast Quarter (NE 1/4) of the Northwest Quarter (NW 1/4) of Section 22, Township 3 North, Range 2 East, all in Rankin County, Mississippi;
44. Any facility located on land more particularly described as follows:
Beginning at a point 1915 feet west and 2171 feet north of southeast corner, Section 11, Township 24 North, Range 2 West, Second Judicial District, Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, which point is the southwest corner of J.C. Section Lot mentioned in deed recorded in Book 50, page 34, in the records of the Chancery Clerk's Office at Sumner, in said District of said County; thence South 80° West, 19 feet to the east boundary of United States Highway 49-E, thence East along the east boundary of said Highway 270 feet to point of beginning of Lot to be conveyed; thence southeast along the east boundary of said Highway 204 feet to a concrete post at the intersection of the east boundary of said Highway with the west boundary of gravel road from Sumner to Webb, known as Oil Mill Road, thence Northwest along west boundary of said Oil Mill Road 194 feet to center of driveway running southwest from said Oil Mill Road to U.S. Highway 49-E; thence South 66° West along center of said driveway 128 feet to point of beginning, being situated in Northwest Quarter of Southeast Quarter of Section 11, together with all improvements situated thereon;
45. Any facility that:
a. Consists of at least five thousand six hundred (5,600) square feet being heated and cooled along with a lakeside patio that consists of at least two thousand two hundred (2,200) square feet, regardless of whether such patio is part of the facility and/or located adjacent to or in close proximity to the facility;
b. Includes a caterer's kitchen and green room for entertainment preparation;
c. For a fee is used to host events; and
d. Is located adjacent to or in close proximity to an approximately nine (9) acre lake on property that consists of at least one hundred twenty (120) acres in a county traversed by Mississippi Highway 15 and U.S. Highway 278;
46. Any municipality with a population in excess of one thousand (1,000) according to the 2010 federal decennial census and which is located in a county that is traversed by U.S. Highways 84 and 98 and has not voted before January 1, 2025, to come out from under the dry law as such law existed before January 1, 2025;
47. The clubhouse and associated nine-hole golf course, tennis courts and related facilities and swimming pool and related facilities located on or near U.S. Highway 82 between Mississippi Highway 15 and Mississippi Highway 9;
48. The downtown square area bound by East Service Drive, Commerce Street, Second Street and Court Street and adjacent properties in a municipality through which run Interstate 55, U.S. Highway 51 and Mississippi Highway 306;
49. All parcels zoned for mixed-use development located west of Mississippi Highway 589, more than four hundred (400) feet north of Old Highway 24, east of Parkers Creek and Black Creek, and south of J M Burge Road;
50. Any facility used by a soccer club and located on Old Highway 11 between one-tenth (0.1) and two-tenths (0.2) of a mile from its intersection with Oak Grove Road, in a county in which U.S. Highway 98 and Mississippi Highway 589 intersect;
51. Any municipality in which U.S. Highway 49 and Mississippi Highway 469 intersect;
52. Any facility that is:
a. Owned by a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) organization that is a nonprofit corporation and registered with the Mississippi Secretary of State;
b. Used by such organization for its headquarters and other organization related purposes; and
c. Located outside of a municipality in a county that has not voted before January 1, 2025, to come out from under the dry law as such law existed before January 1, 2025;
53. The following within a municipality in which U.S. Highway 49 and U.S. 61 Highway intersect and through which flows the Sunflower River:
a. An area bounded as follows: Starting at the southern point of the intersection of Sunflower Avenue and 1st Street and going south along said avenue on its eastern side to 8th Street, then going east along said street on its northern side to West Tallahatchie Street, then going north along said street on its western side to 4th Street/Martin Luther King Boulevard, then going east along said street/boulevard on its northern side to Desoto Avenue, then going north along said avenue on its western side to 1st Street, then going west along said street on its southern side to the point of beginning along the southern side of Court Street;
b. Lots located at or near the intersection of Madison Avenue, Walnut Street, and Riverside Avenue that are in a commercial zone; and
c. Any facility located on the west side of Sunflower Avenue to the Sunflower River between the southern side of 6th Street and the northern side of 8th Street and which is operated as and/or was operated as a hotel or lodging facility, in consideration of payment, regardless of whether the facility meets the criteria for the definition of the term "hotel" in paragraph (l) of this section; and
d. Any facility located on the west side of Sunflower Avenue to the Sunflower River between the southern side of 3rd Street and the northern side of 4th Street/Martin Luther King Boulevard and which is operated as and/or was operated as a musical venue, in consideration of payment;
54. Any municipality in which Mississippi Highway 340 meets Mississippi Highway 15;
55. Any municipality in which Mississippi Highway 540 and Mississippi Highway 149 intersect;
56. Any municipality in which Mississippi Highway 15 and Mississippi Highway 345/Main Street intersect;
57. The property and structures thereon at the following locations within a municipality through which run U.S. Highway 45 and Mississippi Highway 145 and in which Mississippi Highway 370 and Mississippi Highway 145 intersect: 104 West Main Street, 106 West Main Street, 108 West Main Street, 110 West Main Street and 112 West Main Street;
58. Any municipality in which U.S. Highway 11 and Main Street intersect and which is located in a county having two (2) judicial districts;
59. Any municipality in which Interstate 22 passes over Mississippi Highway 9;
60. Any facility located on land more particularly described as follows:
A certain parcel of land being situated in the Southeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 9, T3N-R3E, Rankin County, Mississippi, and being more particularly described as follows:
Commence at an existing 1/2" iron pin marking the Southwest corner of the aforesaid Southeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 9, T3N-R3E and run thence North 00 degrees 06 minutes 13 seconds East along the East line of the Southeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 for a distance of 33.18 feet to an existing 1/2" iron pin; leaving said East line of the Southeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4, run thence South 89 degrees 53 minutes 47 seconds East for a distance of 2.08 feet to an existing 1/2" iron pin; run thence North 00 degrees 22 minutes 19 seconds East for a distance of 561.90 feet to an existing 1/2" iron pin; run thence North 00 degrees 16 minutes 18 seconds East for a distance of 76.42 feet to a set 1/2" iron pin marking the POINT OF BEGINNING of the parcel of land herein described; from said POINT OF BEGINNING, continue thence North 00 degrees 16 minutes 18 seconds East along an existing fence for a distance of 493.27 feet to an existing 1/2" iron pin; run thence North 03 degrees 08 minutes 15 seconds East for a distance of 170.22 feet to an existing 1/2" iron pin on the North line of the aforesaid Southeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 9; run thence North 89 degrees 46 minutes 45 seconds East along said North line of the Southeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 9 for a distance of 1,305.51 feet to an existing 1/2" iron pin marking Northeast corner thereof; leaving said North line of the Southeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 9, run thence South 00 degrees 08 minutes 35 seconds West along the East line of said Southeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 9 for a distance of 663.19 feet to a set 1/2" iron pin; leaving said East line of the Southeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 9, run thence South 89 degrees 46 minutes 45 seconds West for a distance of 1,315.51 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING, containing 20.00 acres, more or less.
And Also: An easement for the purpose of ingress and egress being situated in the Southeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 and in the Northeast 1/4 of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 9, T3N-R3E, Rankin County, Mississippi, and being more particularly described as follows:
Begin at an existing 1/2" iron pin marking the Southwest corner of the aforesaid Southeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 9, T3N-R3E and run thence North 00 degrees 06 minutes 13 seconds East along the East line of the Southeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 for a distance of 33.18 feet to an existing 1/2" iron pin; leaving said East line of the Southeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4, run thence South 89 degrees 53 minutes 47 seconds East for a distance of 2.08 feet to an existing 1/2" iron pin; run thence North 00 degrees 22 minutes 19 seconds East for a distance of 561.90 feet to an existing 1/2" iron pin; run thence North 00 degrees 16 minutes 18 seconds East for a distance of 76.42 feet to a set 1/2" iron pin; run thence North 89 degrees 46 minutes 45 seconds East for a distance of 25.00 feet to a set 1/2" iron pin; run thence South 00 degrees 16 minutes 18 seconds West for a distance of 76.66 feet to a set 1/2" iron pin; run thence South 00 degrees 22 minutes 19 seconds West for a distance of 619.81 feet to a set 1/2" iron pin; run thence South 89 degrees 43 minutes 01 seconds West for a distance of 26.81 feet to a set 1/2" iron pin; run thence North 00 degrees 06 minutes 13 seconds East along the West line of the aforesaid Northeast 1/4 of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 9 for a distance of 25.00 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING, containing 17,525.4 square feet, more or less.
61. Any municipality bordered on the east by the Pascagoula River and on the south by the Mississippi Sound;
62. The property and structures thereon located at parcel numbers 4969 198 000; 4969 200 000; 4969 201 000; 4969 206 000; 4969 207 000; 4969 208 000; 4969 218 000; 4969 199; 4969 204 000 and 4969 204 001, all in Block 4 of the original town square in any municipality with a population in excess of one thousand five hundred (1,500) according to the latest federal decennial census and which is located in:
a. A county traversed by Interstate 55 and Interstate 20, and
b. A judicial district that has not voted before January 1, 2025, to come out from under the dry law as such law existed before January 1, 2025;
63. Any municipality in which Mississippi Highway 12 meets Mississippi Highway 17;
64. Any municipality in which U.S. Highway 49 and Mississippi Highway 469 intersect;
65. The clubhouse and associated nine-hole golf course and related facilities located on or near the eastern corner of the point at which Golf Course Road meets Athens Road, in a county in which Mississippi Highway 13 and Mississippi Highway 28 intersect, with GPS coordinates of approximately 31.900370078041004, -89.7928067652611;
66. Any facility located at the south-to-southwest corner of the intersection of Madison Street and Bolton Brownsville Road, in a municipality in which Bolton Brownsville Road passes over Interstate 20, with GPS coordinates of approximately 32.349067271758955, -90.4596221146197;
67. Any facility located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Depot Street and Madison Street, in a municipality in which Bolton Brownsville Road passes over Interstate 20, with GPS coordinates of approximately 32.34903152971068, -90.46047660172901;
68. Any facility located on Hinds Boulevard approximately three-tenths (0.3) of a mile south of the point at which Hinds Boulevard diverges from Clinton Road, in a municipality whose northern boundary partially consists of Snake Creek Road, and whose southern boundary partially consists of Mississippi Highway 18, with GPS coordinates of approximately 32.26384517526713, -90.41586570183475;
69. Any facility located on Pleasant Grove Drive approximately one and three-tenths (1.3) miles southeast of its intersection with Harmony Drive, in a county through which run Interstate 55 and U.S. Highway 84, with GPS coordinates of approximately 31.512043770371907, -90.2506094382595;
70. Any facility located immediately north of the intersection of two roads, both named Mason Clark Drive, located between two-tenths (0.2) and three-tenths (0.3) of a mile southwest of Mississippi Highway 57/63, with GPS coordinates of approximately 31.135950529733048, -88.53068674585575;
71. Any facility located on Raj Road approximately three-tenths (0.3) of a mile south of Mississippi Highway 57/63, with GPS coordinates of approximately 31.139553708288418, -88.53411203512971; and
72. Any facility located on Raj Road approximately one-tenth (0.1) of a mile south of Mississippi Highway 57/63, with GPS coordinates of approximately 31.14184097577295, -88.53287700849411;
The status of these municipalities, districts, clubhouses, facilities, golf courses and areas described in this paragraph (o)(iii) as qualified resort areas does not require any declaration of same by the department. In addition, the status of these municipalities, districts, clubhouses, facilities, golf courses, restaurants and areas described in this paragraph (o)(iii) as qualified resort areas shall not be affected by the institution of prohibition by a county or municipality.
The governing authorities of a municipality described, in whole or in part, in item 6, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 46, 48, 51, 53, 54, 55, 58, 59, 61, 63, 64, 66, 67 or 68 of this paragraph (o)(iii) may by ordinance, with respect to the qualified resort area described in the same item: specify the hours of operation of facilities offering alcoholic beverages for sale; specify the percentage of revenue that facilities offering alcoholic beverages for sale must derive from the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and not from the sale of beverages; and designate the areas in which facilities offering alcoholic beverages for sale may be located.
(p) "Native wine" means any product, produced in Mississippi for sale, having an alcohol content not to exceed twenty-one percent (21%) by weight and made in accordance with revenue laws of the United States, which shall be obtained primarily from the alcoholic fermentation of the juice of ripe grapes, fruits, berries, honey or vegetables grown and produced in Mississippi; provided that bulk, concentrated or fortified wines used for blending may be produced without this state and used in producing native wines. The department shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to permit a producer to import such bulk and/or fortified wines into this state for use in blending with native wines without payment of any excise tax that would otherwise accrue thereon.
(q) "Native winery" means any place or establishment within the State of Mississippi where native wine is produced, in whole or in part, for sale.
(r) "Bed and breakfast inn" means an establishment within a municipality where in consideration of payment, breakfast and lodging are habitually furnished to travelers and wherein are located not less than eight (8) and not more than nineteen (19) adequately furnished and completely separate sleeping rooms with adequate facilities, that persons usually apply for and receive as overnight accommodations; however, such restriction on the minimum number of sleeping rooms shall not apply to establishments on the National Register of Historic Places. No place shall qualify as a bed and breakfast inn under this article unless on the date of the initial application for a license under this article more than fifty percent (50%) of the sleeping rooms are located in a structure formerly used as a residence.
(s) "Board" shall refer to the Board of Tax Appeals of the State of Mississippi.
(t) "Spa facility" means an establishment within a municipality or qualified resort area and owned by a hotel where, in consideration of payment, patrons receive from licensed professionals a variety of private personal care treatments such as massages, facials, waxes, exfoliation and hairstyling.
(u) "Art studio or gallery" means an establishment within a municipality or qualified resort area that is in the sole business of allowing patrons to view and/or purchase paintings and other creative artwork.
(v) "Cooking school" means an establishment within a municipality or qualified resort area and owned by a nationally recognized company that offers an established culinary education curriculum and program where, in consideration of payment, patrons are given scheduled professional group instruction on culinary techniques. For purposes of this paragraph, the definition of cooking school shall not include schools or classes offered by grocery stores, convenience stores or drugstores.
(w) "Campus" means property owned by a public school district, community or junior college, college or university in this state where educational courses are taught, school functions are held, tests and examinations are administered or academic course credits are awarded; however, the term shall not include any "restaurant" or "hotel" that is located on property owned by a community or junior college, college or university in this state, and is operated by a third party who receives all revenue generated from food and alcoholic beverage sales.
(x) "Native spirit" shall mean any beverage, produced in Mississippi for sale, manufactured primarily by the distillation of fermented grain, starch, molasses or sugar produced in Mississippi, including dilutions and mixtures of these beverages. In order to be classified as "native spirit" under the provisions of this article, at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the finished product by volume shall have been obtained from distillation of fermented grain, starch, molasses or sugar grown and produced in Mississippi.
(y) "Native distillery" shall mean any place or establishment within this state where native spirit is produced in whole or in part for sale.
(z) "Warehouse operator" shall have the meaning ascribed in Section 67-1-201.
SECTION 3. Section 67-1-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-7. (1) Except * * * in those counties that hold
an election pursuant to this article and vote to institute prohibition, and
subject to all of the provisions and restrictions contained in this article, the
manufacture, sale, distribution, and transportation of alcoholic beverages shall
be lawful * * *.
* * *
The manufacture, sale, distribution and possession of native wines or native spirits shall be lawful in any location within any such county except those locations where the manufacture, sale or distribution is prohibited by law other than this section or by regulations of the department.
(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing,
within any state park or any state park facility that has been declared a qualified
resort area by the department, and within any qualified resort area as defined under
Section 67-1-5(o)(iii), an on-premises retailer's permit may be issued for the qualified
resort area, and the permittee may lawfully sell alcoholic beverages for consumption
on his licensed premises regardless of whether or not the county * * * in which the qualified resort area
is located has voted in favor of * * * instituting
prohibition, and it shall be lawful to receive, store, sell, possess and consume
alcoholic beverages on the licensed premises, and to sell, distribute and transport
alcoholic beverages to the licensed premises. * * *
SECTION 4. Section 67-1-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-9. (1) It shall be * * * lawful for any person to
manufacture, distill, brew, sell, import into this state, * * * transport, distribute,
warehouse, store, solicit, take order for, bottle, rectify, blend, treat, mix
or process any alcoholic beverage * * * as authorized in this article. * * * Nothing contained herein shall prevent
importers, wineries and distillers of alcoholic beverages from storing such alcoholic
beverages in private bonded warehouses located within the State of Mississippi
for the ultimate use and benefit of the Department of Revenue as provided in
Section 67-1-41. The department is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and
regulations for the establishment of such private bonded warehouses and for the
control of alcoholic beverages stored in such warehouses. Additionally,
nothing herein contained shall prevent any duly licensed practicing physician
or dentist from possessing or using alcoholic liquor in the strict practice of
his profession, or prevent any hospital or other institution caring for sick
and diseased persons, from possessing and using alcoholic liquor for the
treatment of bona fide patients of such hospital or other institution. Any
drugstore employing a licensed pharmacist may possess and use alcoholic liquors
in the combination of prescriptions of duly licensed physicians. The
possession and dispensation of wine by an authorized representative of any
church for the purpose of conducting any bona fide rite or religious ceremony
conducted by such church shall not be prohibited by this article.
(2) Any person, upon conviction of any provision of this section, shall be punished as follows:
(a) By a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail not less than one (1) week nor more than three (3) months, or both, for the first conviction under this section.
(b) By a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail not less than sixty (60) days, nor more than six (6) months, or both fine and imprisonment, for the second conviction for violating this section.
(c) By a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary not less than one (1) year, nor more than five (5) years, or both fine and imprisonment, for conviction the third time under this section for the violation thereof after having been twice convicted of its violation.
(3) Nothing in this section shall make it unlawful to transport bottles or containers of alcoholic beverages that are legally purchased in this state if the bottles or containers are unopened and are being transported on state or federal highway.
SECTION 5. Section 67-1-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-11. (1) From and after
January 1, 2025, notwithstanding any provision of this article, * * * a county may hold an election
to determine whether to institute prohibition and make the sale, manufacture and
distribution of alcoholic beverages illegal.
(2) Upon presentation and
filing of a proper petition requesting same signed by at least twenty percent
(20%) or fifteen hundred (1,500), whichever number is the lesser, of the
qualified electors of the county, it shall be the duty of the board of
supervisors to call an election at which there shall be submitted to the
qualified electors of the county the question of whether or not the sale, * * * distribution and manufacture of
alcoholic beverages shall be * * * prohibited in such county as
provided in this article. Such election shall be held and conducted by the
county election commissioners on a date fixed by the order of the board of
supervisors, which date shall not be more than sixty (60) days from the date of
the filing of said petition. Notice thereof shall be given by publishing such
notice once each week for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in some
newspaper published in said county or, if no newspaper be published therein, by
such publication in a newspaper in an adjoining county and having a general
circulation in the county involved. The election shall be held not earlier
than fifteen (15) days from the first publication of such notice.
(3) Said election shall be
held and conducted as far as may be possible in the same manner as is provided
by law for the holding of general elections. The ballots used thereat shall
contain a brief statement of the proposition submitted and, on separate lines,
the words "I vote FOR * * * prohibiting
alcoholic beverages and making ________ County a dry county (
)" "I vote AGAINST * * * prohibiting
alcoholic beverages and making ________ County a dry county (
)" with appropriate boxes in which the voters may express their choice.
All qualified electors may vote by marking the ballot with a cross (x) or check
(√) mark opposite the words of their choice.
(4) The election
commissioners shall canvass and determine the results of said election, and
shall certify same to the board of supervisors which shall adopt and spread upon
its minutes an order declaring such results. If, in such election, a majority
of the qualified electors participating therein shall vote in favor of the
proposition, * * * the manufacture,
sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages * * * in such county shall be * * * unlawful to the extent and in
the manner * * *
prohibited hereby. If, on the other hand, a majority of the qualified
electors participating in the election shall vote against the proposition, * * * the manufacture, sale and distribution
of alcoholic beverages shall remain lawful to the extent and in the manner permitted
hereby. In either case, no further election shall be held in said county
under the provisions of this article for a period of * * * four (4) years from the date of
the prior election and then only upon the filing of a petition requesting same
signed by at least twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1,500), whichever
number is the lesser, of the qualified electors of the county as is otherwise
provided herein.
(5) If a majority of the qualified electors participating in the election vote for the proposition, all alcohol permits issued to locations within the county shall expire thirty (30) days from the date the official recapitulation on the election is executed by the county. However, notwithstanding an election instituting the prohibition laws in a county, the holder of a native wine producer's permit or a native wine retailer's permit is allowed to continue to operate under such permits and to renew such permits. Possession of native wines and personal property related to the activities of the native wine permit holder which would otherwise be unlawful under prohibition shall be allowed subject to regulations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.
SECTION 6. Section 67-1-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-13. (1) When * * * a county has voted to institute prohibition as a result
of an election called and held as provided in Section 67-1-11, the same may be made
ineffective and inapplicable therein by an election called and held upon a petition
filed with the board of supervisors requesting same signed by at least twenty percent
(20%) or fifteen hundred (1500), whichever number is the lesser, of the qualified
electors of the county as is otherwise provided in Section 67-1-11, all of the provisions
of which shall be fully applicable thereto. However, nothing herein shall authorize
or permit the calling and holding of any election under this chapter in any county
more often than once every * * * four (4) years. If in such election,
a majority of the qualified electors participating therein shall vote * * *
for legalizing the sale, distribution and manufacturing of alcoholic beverages,
then the prohibition laws of the State of Mississippi * * * shall become * * * inapplicable in said county.
(2) Notwithstanding an election reinstating the prohibition laws in a political subdivision, the holder of a native wine or native spirit producer's permit or a native wine or native spirit retailer's permit is allowed to continue to operate under such permits and to renew such permits. Possession of native wines or native spirits and personal property related to the activities of the native wine permit or native spirit permit holder which would otherwise be unlawful under prohibition shall be allowed subject to regulations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.
SECTION 7. Section 67-1-14, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-14. (1) The
legalizing provisions of this article may be effective, applicable and
operative in any municipality located in a county which has voted * * * for
instituting prohibition if a local option election shall be called and held
in such municipality in the manner and with the results hereinafter provided.
(2) (a) Any municipality
in this state having a population of not less than five thousand (5,000) according
to the latest federal census and which is located in a county which has voted * * * for
instituting prohibition, or any municipality that is a county seat and
which is located in a county which has voted * * * for
instituting prohibition, may, at an election held for the purpose under the
election laws applicable to such municipality, either prohibit or permit,
except as otherwise provided under Section 67-9-1, the sale of alcoholic
beverages. An election to determine whether such sale shall be permitted in
municipalities wherein its sale is prohibited by law shall be ordered by the
municipal governing authorities upon the presentation of a petition to such
governing authorities containing the names of at least twenty percent (20%) of
the duly qualified voters of such municipality asking for such election. In like
manner, an election to determine whether such sale shall be prohibited in
municipalities wherein its sale is permitted by law shall be ordered by the
municipal governing authorities upon the presentation of a petition to such
governing authorities containing the names of at least twenty percent (20%) of
the duly qualified voters of such municipality asking for such election. No
election on either question shall be held by any one (1) municipality more
often than once in * * * four (4) years.
Thirty (30) days' notice shall be given to the qualified electors of such municipality, in the manner prescribed by law, upon the question of either permitting or prohibiting such sale, such notice to contain a statement of the question to be voted on at the election. The ballots to be used in the election shall have the following words printed thereon: "For the legal sale of alcoholic beverages" and the words "Against the legal sale of alcoholic beverages" next below. In marking his ballot the voter shall make a cross (X) opposite the words of his choice.
If in the election a majority of the qualified electors voting in the election shall vote "for the legal sale of alcoholic beverages," then the municipal governing authorities shall pass the necessary order permitting the legal sale of such alcoholic beverages in such municipality. If in the election a majority of the qualified electors voting in the election shall vote "against the legal sale of alcoholic beverages," then the municipal governing authorities shall pass the necessary order prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages in such municipality.
(b) The provisions of this subsection shall also apply to any municipality having a population of not less than six thousand (6,000) according to the latest federal census, a portion of which is located in a county which has voted before January 1, 2025, against coming out from under the dry law as such law existed before January 1, 2025, and a portion of which is located in a county which has voted before January 1, 2025, in favor of coming out from under the dry law as such law existed before January 1, 2025. For the purpose of determining whether or not such a municipality meets the threshold population of six thousand (6,000) which will qualify the municipality to hold an election under this subsection, the entire population of the municipality shall be considered; however, the petition to hold the election authorized in this subsection shall be ordered by the municipal governing authorities upon the presentation of a petition to such governing authorities containing the names of at least twenty percent (20%) of the duly qualified voters of such municipality who reside in that portion of the municipality located in a county which has voted before January 1, 2025, against coming out from under the dry law as such law existed before January 1, 2025, and the election shall be held only in that portion of the municipality. In all other respects, the authority for the holding of elections and the manner in which such elections shall be conducted shall be as prescribed in paragraph (a) of this subsection; and, after proper certification of election results, the municipal governing authorities shall pass the appropriate order to permit or prohibit the legal sale of alcoholic beverages in that portion of the municipality located in a county which has voted against coming out from under the dry law.
(3) The governing
authorities of a municipality that has voted to * * *
allow the legal sale, manufacture and distribution of alcoholic beverages
may, by ordinance, provide that alcoholic beverages may be sold in the
municipality only by the holder of an on-premises retailer's permit.
SECTION 8. Section 67-1-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-15. In any county having
two (2) judicial districts, each such judicial district shall be construed to be
a political subdivision or subdivision of government on the same basis as a county,
and as such, a judicial district will be entitled to all of the rights, privileges,
and immunities as a county for the purposes of * * * instituting
prohibition therein under the provisions of this article.
SECTION 9. Section 67-1-16, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-16. (1) (a) Before an area may be designated by the governing authorities of a municipality as an area in which facilities which are defined as qualified resort areas in Section 67-1-5(o)(iii)5 may be located, an election shall be held, under the election laws applicable to the municipality, on the question of whether qualified resort areas shall be allowed in the municipality. An election to determine whether qualified resort areas shall be allowed in the municipality shall be ordered by the municipal governing authorities, upon presentation to the governing authorities of a petition containing the names of at least twenty percent (20%) of the duly qualified voters of the municipality asking for the election. An election on the question may not be held by the municipality more often than once each year.
(b) Thirty (30) days' notice shall be given to the qualified electors of the municipality, in the manner prescribed by law, on the question of allowing qualified resort areas to be established. The notice shall contain a statement of the question to be voted on at the election. The ballots used in the election shall have the following words printed thereon: "FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF QUALIFIED RESORT AREAS," and next below, "AGAINST THE ESTABLISHMENT OF QUALIFIED RESORT AREAS." In marking his ballot, the voter shall make a cross (X) opposite the words of his choice.
(c) Qualified resort areas may be established if a majority of the qualified electors voting in the election vote for such establishment. A qualified resort area may not be established if a majority of the qualified electors voting in the election vote against such establishment.
(2) (a) Before a municipality may be designated as a qualified resort area as defined in Section 67-1-5(o)(iii)6, an election shall be held, under the election laws applicable to the municipality, on the question of whether the municipality shall be a qualified resort area. An election to determine whether the municipality shall be a qualified resort area shall be ordered by the municipal governing authorities, upon presentation to the governing authorities of a petition containing the names of at least twenty percent (20%) of the duly qualified voters of the municipality asking for the election. An election on the question may not be held by the municipality more often than once each year.
(b) Thirty (30) days' notice shall be given to the qualified electors of the municipality, in the manner prescribed by law, on the question of allowing qualified resort areas to be established. The notice shall contain a statement of the question to be voted on at the election. The ballots used in the election shall have the following words printed thereon: "FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A QUALIFIED RESORT AREA," and next below, "AGAINST THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A QUALIFIED RESORT AREA." In marking his ballot, the voter shall make a cross (X) opposite the words of his choice.
(c) The municipality may be established as a qualified resort area if a majority of the qualified electors voting in the election vote for such establishment. A qualified resort area may not be established if a majority of the qualified electors voting in the election vote against such establishment.
(3) (a) Before an area may be designated a qualified resort area as defined in Section 67-1-5(o)(iii)7, an election shall be held in the municipality in which the area is located under the election laws applicable to the municipality, on the question of whether the area shall be a qualified resort area. An election to determine whether the area shall be a qualified resort area shall be ordered by the municipal governing authorities, upon presentation to the governing authorities of a petition containing the names of at least twenty percent (20%) of the duly qualified voters of the municipality asking for the election. An election on the question may not be held by the municipality more often than once each year.
(b) Thirty (30) days' notice shall be given to the qualified electors of the municipality, in the manner prescribed by law, on the question of allowing qualified resort areas to be established. The notice shall contain a statement of the question to be voted on at the election. The ballots used in the election shall have the following words printed thereon: "FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A QUALIFIED RESORT AREA," and next below, "AGAINST THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A QUALIFIED RESORT AREA." In marking his ballot, the voter shall make a cross (X) opposite the words of his choice.
(c) The area may be established as a qualified resort area if a majority of the qualified electors voting in the election vote for such establishment. A qualified resort area may not be established if a majority of the qualified electors voting in the election vote against such establishment.
(4) (a) Before a municipality may be designated as a qualified resort area as defined in item 21, 35, 36 or 51 of Section 67-1-5(o)(iii), an election shall be held, under the election laws applicable to the municipality, on the question of whether the municipality shall be a qualified resort area. An election to determine whether the municipality shall be a qualified resort area shall be ordered by the municipal governing authorities. An election on the question may not be held by the municipality more often than once each year.
(b) Thirty (30) days' notice shall be given to the qualified electors of the municipality, in the manner prescribed by law, on the question of allowing qualified resort areas to be established. The notice shall contain a statement of the question to be voted on at the election. The ballots used in the election shall have the following words printed thereon: "FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A QUALIFIED RESORT AREA," and next below, "AGAINST THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A QUALIFIED RESORT AREA." In marking his ballot, the voter shall make a cross (X) opposite the words of his choice.
(c) The municipality may be established as a qualified resort area if a majority of the qualified electors voting in the election vote for such establishment. A qualified resort area may not be established if a majority of the qualified electors voting in the election vote against such establishment.
(5) No election shall be held under this section after December 31, 2024, relating to the designation or establishment of a qualified resort area.
SECTION 10. Section 67-1-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-17. (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to have or possess either alcoholic beverages or personal property intended for use in violating the provisions of this article, or regulations prescribed under this article, or Chapter 31 of Title 97, Mississippi Code of 1972. No property rights shall exist in any such personal property or alcoholic beverages. All such personal property and alcoholic beverages shall be considered contraband and shall be seized and forfeited to the State of Mississippi.
(2) The following are subject to forfeiture:
(a) All alcoholic beverages which have been manufactured, distilled, distributed, dispensed or acquired in violation of this article or Chapter 31 of Title 97, Mississippi Code of 1972;
(b) All raw materials, products and equipment of any kind which are used, or intended for use, in manufacturing, compounding, processing, delivering, importing or exporting any alcoholic beverage in violation of this article or Chapter 31 of Title 97, Mississippi Code of 1972;
(c) All property which is used, or intended for use, as a container for property described in items (a) or (b) of this subsection;
(d) All conveyances, including aircraft, vehicles or vessels, which are used, or intended for use, to transport, or in any manner to facilitate the transportation, for the purpose of sale or receipt, possession or concealment, of property described in item (a) of this subsection which is in excess of six (6) gallons or of property described in item (b) of this subsection; however,
(i) No conveyance used by any person as a common carrier in the transaction of business as a common carrier is subject to forfeiture under this section unless it appears that the owner or other person in charge of the conveyance is a consenting party or privy to a violation of this article or Chapter 31 of Title 97, Mississippi Code of 1972;
(ii) No conveyance is subject to forfeiture under this section by reason of any act or omission proved by the owner thereof to have been committed or omitted without his knowledge or consent; if the confiscating authority has reason to believe that the conveyance is a leased or rented conveyance, then the confiscating authority shall notify the owner of the conveyance within five (5) days of the confiscation; and
(iii) A forfeiture of a conveyance encumbered by a bona fide security interest is subject to the interest of the secured party if he neither had knowledge of nor consented to the act or omission;
(e) All money, deadly weapons, books, records and research products and materials, including formulas, microfilm, tapes and data which are used, or intended for use, in violation of this article or Chapter 31 of Title 97, Mississippi Code of 1972.
(3) Property subject to forfeiture may be seized by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division and its agents, local law enforcement officers, Mississippi Highway Patrol officers and other law enforcement personnel charged by Section 67-1-91, with enforcing the provisions of this article upon process issued by any appropriate court having jurisdiction over the property. Seizure without process may be made if:
(a) The seizure is incident to an arrest or a search under a search warrant or an administrative inspection under Section 67-1-37(k);
(b) The property subject to seizure has been the subject of a prior judgment in favor of the state in a criminal injunction or forfeiture proceeding based upon this article or Chapter 31 of Article 97, Mississippi Code of 1972; or
(c) The Alcoholic
Beverage Control Division of the * * * Department of Revenue
and other law enforcement personnel described in this subsection have probable
cause to believe that the property was used or is intended to be used in
violation of this article or Chapter 31 of Article 97, Mississippi Code of
1972.
(4) Alcoholic beverages and
raw materials seized or detained under the authority of this article or Chapter
31 of Title 97, Mississippi Code of 1972, is deemed to be in the custody of the
agent or agency so seizing the property and subject only to the orders and
decrees of the court having jurisdiction over the property. When such property
is seized it may be retained as evidence until final disposition of the cause
in which such property is involved, and then the agent or agency so seizing the
property shall physically transfer such alcoholic beverage or raw material to
the Director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the * * * Department of Revenue
together with an appropriate inventory of the items seized. Alcoholic
beverages and raw materials seized or detained under the authority of this section
shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of Section 67-1-18.
(5) Any property other than alcoholic beverages and raw materials seized or detained pursuant to this article or Chapter 31 of Title 97, Mississippi Code of 1972, shall be deemed to be in the custody of the agent or agency so seizing the property and subject only to the orders and decrees of the court having jurisdiction over the property. When such property is seized it may be retained as evidence until the final disposition of the cause in which such property is involved. Property seized or detained other than alcoholic beverages or raw materials shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of Sections 67-1-93, 67-1-95 and 67-1-97.
SECTION 11. Section 67-1-37, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-37. The Department of Revenue, under its duties and powers with respect to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division therein, shall have the following powers, functions and duties:
(a) To issue or refuse to issue any permit provided for by this article, or to extend the permit or remit in whole or any part of the permit monies when the permit cannot be used due to a natural disaster or act of God.
(b) To revoke, suspend or cancel, for violation of or noncompliance with the provisions of this article, or the law governing the production and sale of native wines or native spirits, or any lawful rules and regulations of the department issued hereunder, or for other sufficient cause, any permit issued by it under the provisions of this article. The department shall also be authorized to suspend the permit of any permit holder for being out of compliance with an order for support, as defined in Section 93-11-153. The procedure for suspension of a permit for being out of compliance with an order for support, and the procedure for the reissuance or reinstatement of a permit suspended for that purpose, and the payment of any fees for the reissuance or reinstatement of a permit suspended for that purpose, shall be governed by Section 93-11-157 or Section 93-11-163, as the case may be. If there is any conflict between any provision of Section 93-11-157 or Section 93-11-163 and any provision of this article, the provisions of Section 93-11-157 or Section 93-11-163, as the case may be, shall control.
(c) To prescribe forms of permits and applications for permits and of all reports which it deems necessary in administering this article.
(d) To fix standards, not in conflict with those prescribed by any law of this state or of the United States, to secure the use of proper ingredients and methods of manufacture of alcoholic beverages.
(e) To issue rules regulating the advertising of alcoholic beverages in the state in any class of media and permitting advertising of the retail price of alcoholic beverages.
(f) To issue reasonable rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the federal laws or regulations, requiring informative labeling of all alcoholic beverages offered for sale within this state and providing for the standards of fill and shapes of retail containers of alcoholic beverages; however, such containers shall not contain less than fifty (50) milliliters by liquid measure.
(g) Subject to the provisions of subsection (3) of Section 67-1-51, to issue rules and regulations governing the issuance of retail permits for premises located near or around schools, colleges, universities, churches and other public institutions, and specifying the distances therefrom within which no such permit shall be issued. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Division shall not issue a package retailer's or on-premises retailer's permit for the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages in or on the campus of any public school, community or junior college, college or university.
(h) To adopt and promulgate, repeal and amend, such rules, regulations, standards, requirements and orders, not inconsistent with this article or any law of this state or of the United States, as it deems necessary to control the manufacture, importation, transportation, distribution, delivery and sale of alcoholic liquor, whether intended for beverage or nonbeverage use in a manner not inconsistent with the provisions of this article or any other statute, including the native wine and native spirit laws.
(i) To call upon other administrative departments of the state, county and municipal governments, county and city police departments and upon prosecuting officers for such information and assistance as it may deem necessary in the performance of its duties.
(j) To prepare and submit to the Governor during the month of January of each year a detailed report of its official acts during the preceding fiscal year ending June 30, including such recommendations as it may see fit to make, and to transmit a like report to each member of the Legislature of this state upon the convening thereof at its next regular session.
(k) To inspect, or cause
to be inspected, any premises where alcoholic * * * beverages intended for sale are
manufactured, stored, distributed or sold, and to examine or cause to be examined
all books and records pertaining to the business conducted therein.
(l) To investigate the
administration of laws in relation to alcoholic * * * beverages in this and other states
and any foreign countries, and to recommend from time to time to the Governor and
through him to the Legislature of this state such amendments to this article, if
any, as it may think desirable.
(m) To designate hours and days when alcoholic beverages may be sold in different localities in the state which permit such sale.
(n) To assign employees to posts of duty at locations where they will be most beneficial for the control of alcoholic beverages and to take any other action concerning persons employed under this article as authorized by law and taken in accordance with the rules, regulations and procedures of the State Personnel Board.
(o) To enforce the provisions made unlawful by Chapter 3, Title 67 and Section 97-5-49.
(p) To delegate its authority under this article to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, its director or any other officer or employee of the department that it deems appropriate.
(q) To prescribe and charge a fee to defray the costs of shipping alcoholic beverages, provided that such fee is determined in a manner provided by the department by rules and/or regulations adopted in accordance with the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law.
SECTION 12. Section 67-1-51, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-51. (1) Permits which may be issued by the department shall be as follows:
(a) Manufacturer's permit. It shall be illegal to sell, manufacture, bottle or distribute alcoholic beverages without first obtaining an applicable permit authorizing such activity. A manufacturer's permit shall permit the manufacture, importation in bulk, bottling and storage of alcoholic liquor and its distribution and sale to manufacturers holding permits under this article in this state and to persons outside the state who are authorized by law to purchase the same, and to sell as provided by this article.
Manufacturer's permits shall be of the following classes:
Class 1. Distiller's and/or rectifier's permit, which shall authorize the holder thereof to operate a distillery for the production of distilled spirits by distillation or redistillation and/or to operate a rectifying plant for the purifying, refining, mixing, blending, flavoring or reducing in proof of distilled spirits and alcohol.
Class 2. Wine manufacturer's permit, which shall authorize the holder thereof to manufacture, import in bulk, bottle and store wine or vinous liquor.
Class 3. Native wine producer's permit, which shall authorize the holder thereof to produce, bottle, store and sell native wines.
Class 4. Native spirit producer's permit, which shall authorize the holder thereof to produce, bottle, store and sell native spirits.
(b) Package retailer's permit. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph and Section 67-1-52, a package retailer's permit shall authorize the holder thereof to operate a store exclusively for the sale at retail in original sealed and unopened packages of alcoholic beverages, including native wines, native spirits and edibles, not to be consumed on the premises where sold. Alcoholic beverages shall not be sold by any retailer in any package or container containing less than fifty (50) milliliters by liquid measure. A package retailer's permit, with prior approval from the department, shall authorize the holder thereof to sample new product furnished by a manufacturer's representative or his employees at the permitted place of business so long as the sampling otherwise complies with this article and applicable department regulations. Such samples may not be provided to customers at the permitted place of business. In addition to the sale at retail of packages of alcoholic beverages, the holder of a package retailer's permit is authorized to sell at retail corkscrews, wine glasses, soft drinks, ice, juices, mixers, other beverages commonly used to mix with alcoholic beverages, and fruits and foods that have been submerged in alcohol and are commonly referred to as edibles. Nonalcoholic beverages sold by the holder of a package retailer's permit shall not be consumed on the premises where sold.
(c) On-premises retailer's
permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, an
on-premises retailer's permit shall authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages, including
native wines and native spirits, for consumption on the licensed premises only;
however, a patron of the permit holder may remove one (1) bottle of wine from the
licensed premises if: (i) the patron consumed a portion of the bottle of wine in
the course of consuming a meal purchased on the licensed premises; (ii) the permit
holder securely reseals the bottle; (iii) the bottle is placed in a bag that is
secured in a manner so that it will be visibly apparent if the bag is opened; and
(iv) a dated receipt for the wine and the meal is available. Additionally, as part
of a carryout order, a permit holder may sell one (1) bottle of wine to be removed
from the licensed premises for every two (2) entrees ordered. In addition, an on-premises
retailer's permittee at a permitted premises located on Jefferson Davis Avenue within
one-half (1/2) mile north of U.S. Highway 90 may serve alcoholic beverages by the
glass to a patron in a vehicle using a drive-through method of delivery if the permitted
premises is located in a leisure and recreation district established under Section
67-1-101. Such a sale will be considered to be made on the permitted premises.
An on-premises retailer's permit shall be issued only to qualified hotels, restaurants
and clubs, small craft breweries, microbreweries, and to common carriers with adequate
facilities for serving passengers. In resort areas, whether inside or outside of
a municipality, the department, in its discretion, may issue on-premises retailer's
permits to such establishments as it deems proper. An on-premises retailer's permit
when issued to a common carrier shall authorize the sale and serving of alcoholic
beverages aboard any licensed vehicle while moving through any county of the state;
however, the sale of such alcoholic beverages shall not be permitted while such
vehicle is stopped in a county that has * * * voted to institute
prohibition, unless the vehicle is located in a municipality wherein the sale
of alcoholic beverages is legal. If an on-premises retailer's permit is applied
for by a common carrier operating solely in the water, such common carrier must,
along with all other qualifications for a permit, (i) be certified to carry at least
one hundred fifty (150) passengers and/or provide overnight accommodations for at
least fifty (50) passengers and (ii) operate primarily in the waters within the
State of Mississippi which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the
three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi and/or on the Mississippi
River or navigable waters within any county bordering on the Mississippi River.
(d) Solicitor's permit. A solicitor's permit shall authorize the holder thereof to act as salesman for a manufacturer or wholesaler holding a proper permit, to solicit on behalf of his employer orders for alcoholic beverages, and to otherwise promote his employer's products in a legitimate manner. Such a permit shall authorize the representation of and employment by one (1) principal only. However, the permittee may also, in the discretion of the department, be issued additional permits to represent other principals. No such permittee shall buy or sell alcoholic beverages for his own account, and no such beverage shall be brought into this state in pursuance of the exercise of such permit otherwise than through a permit issued to a wholesaler or manufacturer in the state.
(e) Native wine retailer's permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, a native wine retailer's permit shall be issued only to a holder of a Class 3 manufacturer's permit, and shall authorize the holder thereof to make retail sales of native wines to consumers for on-premises consumption or to consumers in originally sealed and unopened containers at an establishment located on the premises of or in the immediate vicinity of a native winery. When selling to consumers for on-premises consumption, a holder of a native wine retailer's permit may add to the native wine alcoholic beverages not produced on the premises, so long as the total volume of foreign beverage components does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the mixed beverage. Hours of sale shall be the same as those authorized for on-premises permittees in the city or county in which the native wine retailer is located.
(f) Temporary retailer's permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, a temporary retailer's permit shall permit the purchase and resale of alcoholic beverages, including native wines and native spirits, during legal hours on the premises described in the temporary permit only.
Temporary retailer's permits shall be of the following classes:
Class 1. A temporary one-day permit may be issued to bona fide nonprofit civic or charitable organizations authorizing the sale of alcoholic beverages, including native wine and native spirit, for consumption on the premises described in the temporary permit only. Class 1 permits may be issued only to applicants demonstrating to the department, by a statement signed under penalty of perjury submitted ten (10) days prior to the proposed date or such other time as the department may determine, that they meet the qualifications of Sections 67-1-11, 67-1-37, 67-1-51(2) and (3), 67-1-55, 67-1-57 (excluding paragraph (e)) and 67-1-59. Class 1 permittees shall obtain all alcoholic beverages from package retailers located in the county in which the temporary permit is issued. Alcoholic beverages remaining in stock upon expiration of the temporary permit may be returned by the permittee to the package retailer for a refund of the purchase price upon consent of the package retailer or may be kept by the permittee exclusively for personal use and consumption, subject to all laws pertaining to the illegal sale and possession of alcoholic beverages. The department, following review of the statement provided by the applicant and the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations, may issue the permit.
Class 2. A temporary permit, not to exceed seventy (70) days, may be issued to prospective permittees seeking to transfer a permit authorized in paragraph (c) of this subsection. A Class 2 permit may be issued only to applicants demonstrating to the department, by a statement signed under the penalty of perjury, that they meet the qualifications of Sections 67-1-5(l), (m), (n), (o), (p) or (q), 67-1-37, 67-1-51(2) and (3), 67-1-55, 67-1-57 and 67-1-59. The department, following a preliminary review of the statement provided by the applicant and the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations, may issue the permit.
Class 2 temporary permittees must purchase their alcoholic beverages directly from the department or, with approval of the department, purchase the remaining stock of the previous permittee. If the proposed applicant of a Class 1 or Class 2 temporary permit falsifies information contained in the application or statement, the applicant shall never again be eligible for a retail alcohol beverage permit and shall be subject to prosecution for perjury.
Class 3. A temporary one-day permit may be issued to a retail establishment authorizing the complimentary distribution of wine, including native wine, to patrons of the retail establishment at an open house or promotional event, for consumption only on the premises described in the temporary permit. A Class 3 permit may be issued only to an applicant demonstrating to the department, by a statement signed under penalty of perjury submitted ten (10) days before the proposed date or such other time as the department may determine, that it meets the qualifications of Sections 67-1-11, 67-1-37, 67-1-51(2) and (3), 67-1-55, 67-1-57 (excluding paragraph (e)) and 67-1-59. A Class 3 permit holder shall obtain all alcoholic beverages from the holder(s) of a package retailer's permit located in the county in which the temporary permit is issued. Wine remaining in stock upon expiration of the temporary permit may be returned by the Class 3 temporary permit holder to the package retailer for a refund of the purchase price, with consent of the package retailer, or may be kept by the Class 3 temporary permit holder exclusively for personal use and consumption, subject to all laws pertaining to the illegal sale and possession of alcoholic beverages. The department, following review of the statement provided by the applicant and the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations, may issue the permit. No retailer may receive more than twelve (12) Class 3 temporary permits in a calendar year. A Class 3 temporary permit shall not be issued to a retail establishment that either holds a merchant permit issued under paragraph (l) of this subsection, or holds a permit issued under Chapter 3, Title 67, Mississippi Code of 1972, authorizing the holder to engage in the business of a retailer of light wine or beer.
(g) Caterer's permit.
A caterer's permit shall permit the purchase of alcoholic beverages by a person
engaging in business as a caterer and the resale of alcoholic beverages by such
person in conjunction with such catering business. No person shall qualify as a
caterer unless forty percent (40%) or more of the revenue derived from such catering
business shall be from the serving of prepared food and not from the sale of alcoholic
beverages and unless such person has obtained a permit for such business from the
Department of Health. A caterer's permit shall not authorize the sale of alcoholic
beverages on the premises of the person engaging in business as a caterer; however,
the holder of an on-premises retailer's permit may hold a caterer's permit. When
the holder of an on-premises retailer's permit or an affiliated entity of the holder
also holds a caterer's permit, the caterer's permit shall not authorize the service
of alcoholic beverages on a consistent, recurring basis at a separate, fixed location
owned or operated by the caterer, on-premises retailer or affiliated entity and
an on-premises retailer's permit shall be required for the separate location. All
sales of alcoholic beverages by holders of a caterer's permit shall be made at the
location being catered by the caterer, and, except as otherwise provided in subsection
(5) of this section, such sales may be made only for consumption at the catered
location. The location being catered may be anywhere within a county or judicial
district * * * except in a county or
judicial district where prohibition has been instituted and the sale or
distribution of alcoholic beverages is illegal. Such sales shall be made pursuant
to any other conditions and restrictions which apply to sales made by on-premises
retail permittees. The holder of a caterer's permit or his employees shall remain
at the catered location as long as alcoholic beverages are being sold pursuant to
the permit issued under this paragraph (g), and the permittee shall have at the
location the identification card issued by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division
of the department. No unsold alcoholic beverages may be left at the catered location
by the permittee upon the conclusion of his business at that location. Appropriate
law enforcement officers and Alcoholic Beverage Control Division personnel may enter
a catered location on private property in order to enforce laws governing the sale
or serving of alcoholic beverages.
(h) Research permit. A research permit shall authorize the holder thereof to operate a research facility for the professional research of alcoholic beverages. Such permit shall authorize the holder of the permit to import and purchase limited amounts of alcoholic beverages from the department or from importers, wineries and distillers of alcoholic beverages for professional research.
(i) Alcohol processing permit. An alcohol processing permit shall authorize the holder thereof to purchase, transport and possess alcoholic beverages for the exclusive use in cooking, processing or manufacturing products which contain alcoholic beverages as an integral ingredient. An alcohol processing permit shall not authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages on the premises of the person engaging in the business of cooking, processing or manufacturing products which contain alcoholic beverages. The amounts of alcoholic beverages allowed under an alcohol processing permit shall be set by the department.
(j) Hospitality cart permit. A hospitality cart permit shall authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages from a mobile cart on a golf course that is the holder of an on-premises retailer's permit. The alcoholic beverages sold from the cart must be consumed within the boundaries of the golf course.
(k) Special service permit. A special service permit shall authorize the holder to sell commercially sealed alcoholic beverages to the operator of a commercial or private aircraft for en route consumption only by passengers. A special service permit shall be issued only to a fixed-base operator who contracts with an airport facility to provide fueling and other associated services to commercial and private aircraft.
(l) Merchant permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, a merchant permit shall be issued only to the owner of a spa facility, an art studio or gallery, or a cooking school, and shall authorize the holder to serve complimentary by the glass wine only, including native wine, at the holder's spa facility, art studio or gallery, or cooking school. A merchant permit holder shall obtain all wine from the holder of a package retailer's permit.
(m) Temporary alcoholic beverages charitable auction permit. A temporary permit, not to exceed five (5) days, may be issued to a qualifying charitable nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The permit shall authorize the holder to sell alcoholic beverages for the limited purpose of raising funds for the organization during a live or silent auction that is conducted by the organization and that meets the following requirements: (i) the auction is conducted in an area of the state where the sale of alcoholic beverages is authorized; (ii) if the auction is conducted on the premises of an on-premises retailer's permit holder, then the alcoholic beverages to be auctioned must be stored separately from the alcoholic beverages sold, stored or served on the premises, must be removed from the premises immediately following the auction, and may not be consumed on the premises; (iii) the permit holder may not conduct more than two (2) auctions during a calendar year; (iv) the permit holder may not pay a commission or promotional fee to any person to arrange or conduct the auction.
(n) Event venue retailer's permit. An event venue retailer's permit shall authorize the holder thereof to purchase and resell alcoholic beverages, including native wines and native spirits, for consumption on the premises during legal hours during events held on the licensed premises if food is being served at the event by a caterer who is not affiliated with or related to the permittee. The caterer must serve at least three (3) entrees. The permit may only be issued for venues that can accommodate two hundred (200) persons or more. The number of persons a venue may accommodate shall be determined by the local fire department and such determination shall be provided in writing and submitted along with all other documents required to be provided for an on-premises retailer's permit. The permittee must derive the majority of its revenue from event-related fees, including, but not limited to, admission fees or ticket sales for live entertainment in the building. "Event-related fees" do not include alcohol, beer or light wine sales or any fee which may be construed to cover the cost of alcohol, beer or light wine. This determination shall be made on a per event basis. An event may not last longer than two (2) consecutive days per week.
(o) Temporary theatre permit. A temporary theatre permit, not to exceed five (5) days, may be issued to a charitable nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code and owns or operates a theatre facility that features plays and other theatrical performances and productions. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, the permit shall authorize the holder to sell alcoholic beverages, including native wines and native spirits, to patrons of the theatre during performances and productions at the theatre facility for consumption during such performances and productions on the premises of the facility described in the permit. A temporary theatre permit holder shall obtain all alcoholic beverages from package retailers located in the county in which the permit is issued. Alcoholic beverages remaining in stock upon expiration of the temporary theatre permit may be returned by the permittee to the package retailer for a refund of the purchase price upon consent of the package retailer or may be kept by the permittee exclusively for personal use and consumption, subject to all laws pertaining to the illegal sale and possession of alcoholic beverages.
(p) Charter ship operator's permit. Subject to the provisions of this paragraph (p), a charter ship operator's permit shall authorize the holder thereof and its employees to serve, monitor, store and otherwise control the serving and availability of alcoholic beverages to customers of the permit holder during private charters under contract provided by the permit holder. A charter ship operator's permit shall authorize such action by the permit holder and its employees only as to alcoholic beverages brought onto the permit holder's ship by customers of the permit holder as part of such a private charter. All such alcoholic beverages must be removed from the charter ship at the conclusion of each private charter. A charter ship operator's permit shall not authorize the permit holder to sell, charge for or otherwise supply alcoholic beverages to customers, except as authorized in this paragraph (p). For the purposes of this paragraph (p), "charter ship operator" means a common carrier that (i) is certified to carry at least one hundred fifty (150) passengers and/or provide overnight accommodations for at least fifty (50) passengers, (ii) operates only in the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, and (iii) provides charters under contract for tours and trips in such waters.
(q) Distillery retailer's permit. The holder of a Class 1 manufacturer's permit may obtain a distillery retailer's permit. A distillery retailer's permit shall authorize the holder thereof to sell at retail alcoholic beverages to consumers for on-premises consumption, or to consumers by the sealed and unopened bottle from a retail location at the distillery for off-premises consumption. The holder may only sell product manufactured by the manufacturer at the distillery described in the permit. However, when selling to consumers for on-premises consumption, a holder of a distillery retailer's permit may add other beverages, alcoholic or not, so long as the total volume of other beverage components containing alcohol does not exceed twenty percent (20%). Hours of sale shall be the same as those authorized for on-premises permittees in the city or county in which the distillery retailer is located.
The holder shall not sell at retail more than ten percent (10%) of the alcoholic beverages produced annually at its distillery. The holder shall not make retail sales of more than two and twenty-five one-hundredths (2.25) liters, in the aggregate, of the alcoholic beverages produced at its distillery to any one (1) individual for consumption off the premises of the distillery within a twenty-four-hour period. The hours of sale shall be the same as those hours for package retailers under this article. The holder of a distillery retailer's permit is not required to purchase the alcoholic beverages authorized to be sold by this paragraph from the department's liquor distribution warehouse; however, if the holder does not purchase the alcoholic beverages from the department's liquor distribution warehouse, the holder shall pay to the department all taxes, fees and surcharges on the alcoholic beverages that are imposed upon the sale of alcoholic beverages shipped by the department or its warehouse operator. In addition to alcoholic beverages, the holder of a distillery retailer's permit may sell at retail promotional products from the same retail location, including shirts, hats, glasses, and other promotional products customarily sold by alcoholic beverage manufacturers.
(r) Festival Wine Permit. Any wine manufacturer or native wine producer permitted by Mississippi or any other state is eligible to obtain a Festival Wine Permit. This permit authorizes the entity to transport product manufactured by it to festivals held within the State of Mississippi and sell sealed, unopened bottles to festival participants. The holder of this permit may provide samples at no charge to participants. "Festival" means any event at which three (3) or more vendors are present at a location for the sale or distribution of goods. The holder of a Festival Wine Permit is not required to purchase the alcoholic beverages authorized to be sold by this paragraph from the department's liquor distribution warehouse. However, if the holder does not purchase the alcoholic beverages from the department's liquor distribution warehouse, the holder of this permit shall pay to the department all taxes, fees and surcharges on the alcoholic beverages sold at such festivals that are imposed upon the sale of alcoholic beverages shipped by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the Department of Revenue. Additionally, the entity shall file all applicable reports and returns as prescribed by the department. This permit is issued per festival and provides authority to sell for two (2) consecutive days during the hours authorized for on-premises permittees' sales in that county or city. The holder of the permit shall be required to maintain all requirements set by Local Option Law for the service and sale of alcoholic beverages. This permit may be issued to entities participating in festivals at which a Class 1 temporary permit is in effect.
This paragraph (r) shall stand repealed from and after July 1, 2026.
(s) Charter vessel operator's permit. Subject to the provisions of this paragraph (s), a charter vessel operator's permit shall authorize the holder thereof and its employees to sell and serve alcoholic beverages to passengers of the permit holder during public tours, historical tours, ecological tours and sunset cruises provided by the permit holder. The permit shall authorize the holder to only sell alcoholic beverages, including native wines, to passengers of the charter vessel operator during public tours, historical tours, ecological tours and sunset cruises provided by the permit holder aboard the charter vessel operator for consumption during such tours and cruises on the premises of the charter vessel operator described in the permit. For the purposes of this paragraph (s), "charter vessel operator" means a common carrier that (i) is certified to carry at least forty-nine (49) passengers, (ii) operates only in the waters within the State of Mississippi, which lie south of Interstate 10 in the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, and lie adjacent to the State of Mississippi south of the three (3) most southern counties in the State of Mississippi, extending not further than one (1) mile south of such counties, and (iii) provides vessel services for tours and cruises in such waters as provided in this paragraph(s).
(t) Native spirit retailer's permit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, a native spirit retailer's permit shall be issued only to a holder of a Class 4 manufacturer's permit, and shall authorize the holder thereof to make retail sales of native spirits to consumers for on-premises consumption or to consumers in originally sealed and unopened containers at an establishment located on the premises of or in the immediate vicinity of a native distillery. When selling to consumers for on-premises consumption, a holder of a native spirit retailer's permit may add to the native spirit alcoholic beverages not produced on the premises, so long as the total volume of foreign beverage components does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the mixed beverage. Hours of sale shall be the same as those authorized for on-premises permittees in the city or county in which the native spirit retailer is located.
(u) Delivery service permit. Any individual, limited liability company, corporation or partnership registered to do business in this state is eligible to obtain a delivery service permit. Subject to the provisions of Section 67-1-51.1, this permit authorizes the permittee, or its employee or an independent contractor acting on its behalf, to deliver alcoholic beverages, beer, light wine and light spirit product from a licensed retailer to a person in this state who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age for the individual's use and not for resale. This permit does not authorize the delivery of alcoholic beverages, beer, light wine or light spirit product to the premises of a location with a permit for the manufacture, distribution or retail sale of alcoholic beverages, beer, light wine or light spirit product. The holder of a package retailer's permit or an on-premises retailer's permit under Section 67-1-51 or of a beer, light wine and light spirit product permit under Section 67-3-19 is authorized to apply for a delivery service permit as a privilege separate from its existing retail permit.
(v) Food truck permit. A food truck permit shall authorize the holder of an on-premises retailer's permit to use a food truck to sell alcoholic beverages off its premises to guests who must consume the beverages in open containers. For the purposes of this paragraph (v), "food truck" means a fully encased food service establishment on a motor vehicle or on a trailer that a motor vehicle pulls to transport, and from which a vendor, standing within the frame of the establishment, prepares, cooks, sells and serves food for immediate human consumption. The term "food truck" does not include a food cart that is not motorized. Food trucks shall maintain such distance requirements from schools, churches, kindergartens and funeral homes as are required for on-premises retailer's permittees under this article, and all sales must be made within a valid leisure and recreation district established under Section 67-1-101. Food trucks cannot sell or serve alcoholic beverages unless also offering food prepared and cooked within the food truck, and permittees must maintain a twenty-five percent (25%) food sale revenue requirement based on the food sold from the food truck alone. The hours allowed for sale shall be the same as those for on-premises retailer's permittees in the location. This permit will not be required for the holder of a caterer's permit issued under this article to cater an event as allowed by law. Permittees must provide notice of not less than forty-eight (48) hours to the department of each location at which alcoholic beverages will be sold.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) of this section, retail permittees may hold more than one (1) retail permit, at the discretion of the department.
(3) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, no authority shall be granted to any person to manufacture, sell or store for sale any intoxicating liquor as specified in this article within four hundred (400) feet of any church, school, kindergarten or funeral home. However, within an area zoned commercial or business, such minimum distance shall be not less than one hundred (100) feet.
(b) A church or funeral home may waive the distance restrictions imposed in this subsection in favor of allowing issuance by the department of a permit, pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, to authorize activity relating to the manufacturing, sale or storage of alcoholic beverages which would otherwise be prohibited under the minimum distance criterion. Such waiver shall be in written form from the owner, the governing body, or the appropriate officer of the church or funeral home having the authority to execute such a waiver, and the waiver shall be filed with and verified by the department before becoming effective.
(c) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a bed and breakfast inn listed in the National Register of Historic Places or to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages in a historic district that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is a qualified resort area and is located in a municipality having a population greater than one hundred thousand (100,000) according to the latest federal decennial census.
(d) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a qualified resort area as defined in Section
67-1-5(o)(iii)32.
(e) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a licensed premises in a building formerly owned by a municipality and formerly leased by the municipality to a municipal school district and used by the municipal school district as a district bus shop facility.
(f) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a licensed premises in a building consisting of at least five thousand (5,000) square feet and located approximately six hundred (600) feet from the intersection of Mississippi Highway 15 and Mississippi Highway 4.
(g) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a licensed premises in a building located at or near the intersection of Ward and Tate Streets and adjacent properties in the City of Senatobia, Mississippi.
(h) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a theatre facility that features plays and other theatrical performances and productions and (i) is capable of seating more than seven hundred fifty (750) people, (ii) is owned by a municipality which has a population greater than ten thousand (10,000) according to the latest federal decennial census, (iii) was constructed prior to 1930, (iv) is on the National Register of Historic Places, and (v) is located in a historic district.
(i) The distance restrictions imposed in this subsection shall not apply to the sale or storage of alcoholic beverages at a licensed premises in a building located approximately one and six-tenths (1.6) miles north of the intersection of Mississippi Highway 15 and Mississippi Highway 4 on the west side of Mississippi Highway 15.
(4) No person, either individually or as a member of a firm, partnership, limited liability company or association, or as a stockholder, officer or director in a corporation, shall own or control any interest in more than one (1) package retailer's permit, nor shall such person's spouse, if living in the same household of such person, any relative of such person, if living in the same household of such person, or any other person living in the same household with such person own any interest in any other package retailer's permit.
(5) (a) In addition to any other authority granted under this section, the holder of a permit issued under subsection (1)(c), (e), (f), (g), (l), (n) and/or (o) of this section may sell or otherwise provide alcoholic beverages and/or wine to a patron of the permit holder in the manner authorized in the permit and the patron may remove an open glass, cup or other container of the alcoholic beverage and/or wine from the licensed premises and may possess and consume the alcoholic beverage or wine outside of the licensed premises if: (i) the licensed premises is located within a leisure and recreation district created under Section 67-1-101 and (ii) the patron remains within the boundaries of the leisure and recreation district while in possession of the alcoholic beverage or wine.
(b) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to allow a person to bring any alcoholic beverages into a permitted premises except to the extent otherwise authorized by this article.
SECTION 13. Section 67-1-57, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-57. Before a permit is issued the department shall satisfy itself:
(a) That the applicant, if an individual, or if a partnership, each of the members of the partnership, or if a corporation, each of its principal officers and directors, or if a limited liability company, each member of the limited liability company, is of good moral character and, in addition, enjoys a reputation of being a peaceable, law-abiding citizen of the community in which he resides, and is generally fit for the trust to be reposed in him, is not less than twenty-one (21) years of age, and has not been convicted of a felony in any state or federal court.
(b) That, except in the case of an application for a solicitor's permit, the applicant is the true and actual owner of the business for which the permit is desired, and that he intends to carry on the business authorized for himself and not as the agent of any other person, and that he intends to superintend in person the management of the business or that he will designate a manager to manage the business for him. All managers must be approved by the department prior to completing any managerial tasks on behalf of the permittee and must possess all of the qualifications required of a permittee; however, a felony conviction, other than a crime of violence, does not automatically disqualify a person from being approved as a manager if the person was released from incarceration at least three (3) years prior to application for approval as a manager. A felony conviction, other than a crime of violence, may be considered by the department in determining whether all other qualifications are met.
(c) That the applicant for a package retailer's permit, if an individual, is a resident of the State of Mississippi. If the applicant is a partnership, each member of the partnership must be a resident of the state. If the applicant is a limited liability company, each member of the limited liability company must be a resident of the state. If the applicant is a corporation, the designated manager of the corporation must be a resident of the state.
(d) That the place for which the permit is to be issued is an appropriate one considering the character of the premises and the surrounding neighborhood.
(e) That the place for which the permit is to be issued is within the corporate limits of an incorporated municipality or qualified resort area or club which comes within the provisions of this article.
(f) That the applicant
is not indebted to the state for any taxes, fees or payment of penalties
imposed by any law of the State of Mississippi or by any rule or regulation of
the * * * department.
(g) That the applicant is not in the habit of using alcoholic beverages to excess and is not physically or mentally incapacitated, and that the applicant has the ability to read and write the English language.
(h) That the * * * department does not believe
and has no reason to believe that the applicant will sell or knowingly permit
any agent, servant or employee to unlawfully sell * * * alcoholic beverages in * * * an area in which prohibition is
instituted or in any other manner contrary to law.
(i) That the applicant is not residentially domiciled with any person whose permit or license has been cancelled for cause within the twelve (12) months next preceding the date of the present application for a permit.
(j) That the * * * department has not, in the
exercise of its discretion which is reserved and preserved to it, refused to
grant permits under the restrictions of this section, as well as under any
other pertinent provision of this article.
(k) That there are not
sufficient legal reasons to deny a permit on the ground that the premises for
which the permit is sought has previously been operated, used or frequented for
any purpose or in any manner that is lewd, immoral or offensive to public decency.
In the granting or withholding of any permit to sell alcoholic beverages at
retail, the * * * department in forming its conclusions may give
consideration to any recommendations made in writing by the district or county
attorney or county, circuit or chancery judge of the county, or the sheriff of
the county, or the mayor or chief of police of an incorporated city or town
wherein the applicant proposes to conduct his business and to any
recommendations made by representatives of the * * * department.
(l) That the applicant
and the applicant's key employees, as determined by the * * * department, do not have a
disqualifying criminal record. In order to obtain a criminal record
history check, the applicant shall submit to the * * * department a set of
fingerprints from any local law enforcement agency for each person for whom the
records check is required. The * * * department shall forward the
fingerprints to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. If no
disqualifying record is identified at the state level, the Department of Public
Safety shall forward the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation
for a national criminal history record check. Costs for processing the set or
sets of fingerprints shall be borne by the applicant. The * * * department shall not deny employment
to an employee of the applicant prior to the identification of a disqualifying
record or other disqualifying information.
SECTION 14. Section 67-1-85, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-85. (1) The holder of a package retailer's permit may have signs, lighted or otherwise, on the outside of the premises covered by his permit which advertise, announce or advise of the sale of alcoholic beverages in or on said premises. Wherever the sign is located on the premises, the name of the business shall also include the permit number thereof, preceded by the words "A.B.C. Permit No."
(2) It shall be lawful to advertise alcoholic beverages by means of signs, billboards or displays on or along any road, highway, street or building.
(3) It shall be lawful for publishers, broadcasters and other kinds, types or forms of public and private advertising media to advertise alcoholic beverages; however, no alcoholic beverages may be advertised during, or within five (5) minutes preceding or following, any television broadcast which consists primarily of animated material intended for viewing by young children.
(4) Notwithstanding the
provisions of this section to the contrary, it shall be unlawful to advertise
alcoholic beverages by means of signs, billboards or displays in any
municipality, county or judicial district * * * that has voted to institute
prohibition.
SECTION 15. Section 67-1-91, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-91. (1) It is hereby
made the duty of every police and peace officer and every district and county
attorney and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the * * * Department of Revenue
to enforce the provisions of this article and to inform against and diligently
prosecute persons whom they have reasonable cause to believe to be offenders
against the provisions thereof. Every such officer refusing or neglecting to
do so shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and the court, in addition to imposing
the penalty therefor, shall adjudge forfeiture of his office.
(2) In any county or municipality
where it is readily apparent that local law enforcement authorities in cooperation
with the agents and inspectors provided by the * * * department cannot control
the illegal sale of alcoholic beverages, the * * * department shall request
such assistance as it may deem necessary from the Mississippi Highway Safety
Patrol; and it shall be the duty of the Governor of the State of Mississippi to
see that the laws of the state are properly enforced by use of the additional
authority as herein provided.
(3) The officers, agents
and representatives of the * * * Department of Revenue
and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division thereof are authorized and directed
to strictly enforce the * * * prohibition laws throughout the state, except in those counties and
municipalities which have voted for the legalized sale of intoxicating liquor
provisions of this article and any other provisions of law regulating the proper
sale, distribution and transportation of alcoholic beverages, and, in such counties
that vote to institute prohibition, enforce such prohibition on the sale, distribution
and transportation, except as provided herein, of alcoholic beverages within the
boundaries of such counties. The State Highway Patrol, sheriffs, police
departments, constables, and all peace officers, and prosecuting attorneys, the
Attorney General's office, district attorneys, county attorneys, city
attorneys, and all others charged with upholding the law, as well as the
citizenry of this state, are hereby urged and directed to uphold the dignity of
the law, to foster public respect therefor and to strictly enforce the laws
against * * * alcoholic beverages in all cases while operating a
motor vehicle on the streets and highways of this state, and to enforce the law
and prosecute against the wrongful use of * * * alcoholic beverages
in any county or municipality by a permit holder or licensee or anyone else
under such circumstances and conditions as would lead to a breakdown in public
law or is violative of the public sense of common decency, as well as to
enforce the law against gambling, organized crime, or social vice and
corruption.
SECTION 16. Section 67-1-101, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-1-101. (1) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings ascribed in this section, unless the context clearly otherwise requires:
(a)
"Municipality" means any incorporated city, town or village
that has not voted in favor of * * * instituting
prohibition or is in a county that has not voted in favor of * * * instituting
prohibition.
(b) "Leisure and recreation district" means an area officially designated by ordinance or resolution of the governing authorities of a municipality or county as a leisure and recreation district.
(c)
"County" means any county that has voted in favor of * * * instituting
prohibition.
(2)
(a) Subject to the provisions of this section, the governing authorities of a
municipality, by ordinance, may establish one or more leisure and recreation districts within the corporate
boundaries of the municipality and designate the geographic area or areas to be
included within a district. The governing authorities of a municipality, by
ordinance, may modify the boundaries of a leisure and recreation district. In
addition, the boundaries of a leisure and recreation district may extend from
within the municipality into the unincorporated area of the county in which the
municipality is located if the county consents to the extension and has not
voted in favor of * * * instituting prohibition.
(b) Subject to the provisions of this section, the board of Supervisors of a county, by resolution, may establish one or more leisure and recreation districts within the county that are outside the corporate limits of any municipality in the county and designate the geographic area or areas to be included within the districts.
(c) The designation or modification of the geographic area or areas as a leisure and recreation district shall include a detailed description of the area or areas within the district, boundaries of the district and a georeferenced map of the district. In addition to any other matters addressed in an ordinance or resolution establishing or modifying a leisure and recreation district, a municipality or county, as the case may be, must describe the manner in which the municipality or county, as the case may be, will provide for adequate law enforcement and other public safety measures and services within the district. Following the establishment and/or modification of a leisure and recreation district, the municipality or county, as the case may be, shall provide the Department of Revenue with (i) a copy of any ordinance or resolution relating to the establishment or modification of the district, (ii) verification from the municipal police department and/or applicable sheriff's department indicating how such department will provide adequate law enforcement and other public safety measures and services within the district, and (iii) a list of persons or other entities that hold permits issued under Section 67-1-51(c), (e), (f), (g), (l), (n) or (o) and are located and/or doing business under such permits in the district at the time the district is established.
SECTION 17. Section 67-9-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
67-9-1. Notwithstanding the
provisions of any section of Title 27 or 67, Mississippi Code of 1972, it shall
be lawful for any person holding an alcohol processing permit to transport and
possess alcoholic beverages, light wine, light spirit product and beer, in any
part of the state, for his or her use in cooking, processing or manufacturing
products which contain alcoholic beverages as an integral ingredient, in amounts
as limited by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the * * * Department of Revenue.
The authority to transport and possess alcoholic beverages, light wine, light
spirit product and beer under this section exists regardless of whether (a) the
county or municipality in which the transportation or possession takes place
has voted for * * * instituting prohibition, or
(b) the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt or manufacture of
light wine, light spirit product and beer otherwise is prohibited.
The provisions of this section shall not be construed as amending, repealing or otherwise affecting any statute or any lawfully adopted ordinance, rule or regulation that prohibits or restricts the location at which, or the premises upon which, alcoholic beverages, light wine, light spirit product or beer may be sold or consumed.
SECTION 18. Section 97-31-47, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
97-31-47. It shall be unlawful
for any transportation company, or any agent, employee, or officer of such company,
or any other person, or corporation to transport into or deliver in this state
in any manner or by any means any spirituous, vinous, malt, or other
intoxicating liquors or drinks, or for any such person, company, or corporation
to transport any spirituous, malt, vinous, or intoxicating liquors or drinks
from one place within this state to another place within the state, or from one
(1) point within this state to any point without the state, except in cases
where this chapter * * *, Title 27, Mississippi Code of 1972,
or Title 67, Mississippi Code of 1972, authorizes the transportation.
SECTION 19. Section 27-71-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-15. Except as
otherwise provided in Section 67-9-1 for the transportation of limited amounts
of alcoholic beverages for the use of an alcohol processing permittee, if transportation
requires passage through a county which has * * * voted
to institute prohibition, such transportation shall be by a sealed
vehicle. Such seal shall remain unbroken until the vehicle shall reach the place
of business operated by the permittee. The operator of any vehicle transporting
alcoholic beverages shall have in his possession an invoice issued by the * * * department at the time of the
wholesale sale covering the merchandise transported by the vehicle. The * * * department is authorized to
issue regulations controlling the transportation of alcoholic beverages.
When the restrictions
imposed by this section and by the regulation of the * * * department have not been
violated, the person transporting alcoholic beverages through a county wherein the
sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited shall not be guilty of unlawful
possession and such merchandise shall be immune from seizure.
SECTION 20. Section 27-71-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-71-31. Nothing herein
shall be construed to make * * * unlawful the sale, * * * distribution or transportation of
alcoholic beverages in this state, except to the extent, in the manner and in
the localities that same shall be made * * * unlawful by the institution of prohibition.
SECTION 21. Section 67-1-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
67-1-41. (1) The department is hereby created a wholesale distributor and seller of alcoholic beverages, not including malt liquors, within the State of Mississippi. It is granted the right to import and sell alcoholic beverages at wholesale within the state, and no person who is granted the right to sell, distribute or receive alcoholic beverages at retail shall purchase any alcoholic beverages from any source other than the department, except as authorized in subsections (4), (9) and (12) of this section. The department may establish warehouses, and the department may purchase alcoholic beverages in such quantities and from such sources as it may deem desirable and sell the alcoholic beverages to authorized permittees within the state including, at the discretion of the department, any retail distributors operating within any military post or qualified resort areas within the boundaries of the state, keeping a correct and accurate record of all such transactions and exercising such control over the distribution of alcoholic beverages as seem right and proper in keeping with the provisions or purposes of this article.
(2) No person for the purpose of sale shall manufacture, distill, brew, sell, possess, export, transport, distribute, warehouse, store, solicit, take orders for, bottle, rectify, blend, treat, mix or process any alcoholic beverage except in accordance with authority granted under this article, or as otherwise provided by law for native wines or native spirits.
(3) No alcoholic beverage intended for sale or resale shall be imported, shipped or brought into this state for delivery to any person other than as provided in this article, or as otherwise provided by law for native wines or native spirits.
(4) The department may promulgate rules and regulations which authorize on-premises retailers to purchase limited amounts of alcoholic beverages from package retailers and for package retailers to purchase limited amounts of alcoholic beverages from other package retailers. The department shall develop and provide forms to be completed by the on-premises retailers and the package retailers verifying the transaction. The completed forms shall be forwarded to the department within a period of time prescribed by the department.
(5) The department may promulgate rules which authorize the holder of a package retailer's permit to permit individual retail purchasers of packages of alcoholic beverages to return, for exchange, credit or refund, limited amounts of original sealed and unopened packages of alcoholic beverages purchased by the individual from the package retailer.
(6) The department shall maintain all forms to be completed by applicants necessary for licensure by the department at all district offices of the department.
(7) The department may promulgate rules which authorize the manufacturer of an alcoholic beverage or wine to import, transport and furnish or give a sample of alcoholic beverages or wines to the holders of package retailer's permits, on-premises retailer's permits, native wine or native spirit retailer's permits and temporary retailer's permits who have not previously purchased the brand of that manufacturer from the department. For each holder of the designated permits, the manufacturer may furnish not more than five hundred (500) milliliters of any brand of alcoholic beverage and not more than three (3) liters of any brand of wine.
(8) The department may promulgate rules disallowing open product sampling of alcoholic beverages or wines by the holders of package retailer's permits and permitting open product sampling of alcoholic beverages by the holders of on-premises retailer's permits. Permitted sample products shall be plainly identified "sample" and the actual sampling must occur in the presence of the manufacturer's representatives during the legal operating hours of on-premises retailers.
(9) The department may promulgate rules and regulations that authorize the holder of a research permit to import and purchase limited amounts of alcoholic beverages from importers, wineries and distillers of alcoholic beverages or from the department. The department shall develop and provide forms to be completed by the research permittee verifying each transaction. The completed forms shall be forwarded to the department within a period of time prescribed by the department. The records and inventory of alcoholic beverages shall be open to inspection at any time by the Director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division or any duly authorized agent.
(10) The department may promulgate rules facilitating a retailer's on-site pickup of alcoholic beverages sold by the department or as authorized by the department, including, but not limited to, native wines and native spirits, so that those alcoholic beverages may be delivered to the retailer at the manufacturer's location instead of via shipment from the department's warehouse.
(11) [Through June 30, 2026] This section shall not apply to alcoholic beverages authorized to be sold by the holder of a distillery retailer's permit or a festival wine permit.
(11) [From and after July 1, 2026] This section shall not apply to alcoholic beverages authorized to be sold by the holder of a distillery retailer's permit.
(12) (a) An individual resident of this state who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age may purchase wine from a winery and have the purchase shipped into this state so long as it is shipped to a package retailer permittee in Mississippi; however, the permittee shall pay to the department all taxes, fees and surcharges on the wine that are imposed upon the sale of wine shipped by the department or its warehouse operator. No credit shall be provided to the permittee for any taxes paid to another state as a result of the transaction. Package retailers may charge a service fee for receiving and handling shipments from wineries on behalf of the purchasers. The department shall develop and provide forms to be completed by the package retailer permittees verifying the transaction. The completed forms shall be forwarded to the department within a period of time prescribed by the department.
(b) The purchaser of wine that is to be shipped to a package retailer's store shall be required to get the prior approval of the package retailer before any wine is shipped to the package retailer. A purchaser is limited to no more than ten (10) cases of wine per year to be shipped to a package retailer. A package retailer shall notify a purchaser of wine within two (2) days after receiving the shipment of wine. If the purchaser of the wine does not pick up or take the wine from the package retailer within thirty (30) days after being notified by the package retailer, the package retailer may sell the wine as part of his inventory.
(c) Shipments of wine into this state under this section shall be made by a duly licensed carrier. It shall be the duty of every common or contract carrier, and of every firm or corporation that shall bring, carry or transport wine from outside the state for delivery inside the state to package retailer permittees on behalf of consumers, to prepare and file with the department, on a schedule as determined by the department, of known wine shipments containing the name of the common or contract carrier, firm or corporation making the report, the period of time covered by said report, the name and permit number of the winery, the name and permit number of the package retailer permittee receiving such wine, the weight of the package delivered to each package retailer permittee, a unique tracking number, and the date of delivery. Reports received by the department shall be made available by the department to the public via the Mississippi Public Records Act process in the same manner as other state alcohol filings.
Upon the department's request, any records supporting the report shall be made available to the department within a reasonable time after the department makes a written request for such records. Any records containing information relating to such reports shall be kept and preserved for a period of two (2) years, unless their destruction sooner is authorized, in writing, by the department, and shall be open and available to inspection by the department upon the department's written request. Reports shall also be made available to any law enforcement or regulatory body in the state in which the railroad company, express company, common or contract carrier making the report resides or does business.
Any common or contract carrier that willfully fails to make reports, as provided by this section or any of the rules and regulations of the department for the administration and enforcement of this section, is subject to a notification of violation. In the case of a continuing failure to make reports, the common or contract carrier is subject to possible license suspension and revocation at the department's discretion.
(d) A winery that ships wine under this section shall be deemed to have consented to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state, of the department, of any other state agency regarding the enforcement of this section, and of any related law, rules or regulations.
(e) Any person who makes, participates in, transports, imports or receives a shipment in violation of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six (6) months, or both. Each shipment shall constitute a separate offense.
(13) If any provision of this article, or its application to any person or circumstance, is determined by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall be construed in accordance with the intent of the Legislature to further limit rather than expand commerce in alcoholic beverages to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the state's residents, and to enhance strict regulatory control over taxation, distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages through the three-tier regulatory system imposed by this article upon all alcoholic beverages to curb relationships and practices calculated to stimulate sales and impair the state's policy favoring trade stability and the promotion of temperance.
SECTION 22. Section 67-1-65, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
67-1-65. In any county having heretofore voted, or which hereafter votes, to come out from under the prohibition law, in which there is not located an incorporated municipality within such county, the state tax commission may issue package retailer's permits in such county.
SECTION 23. Section 67-1-72, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
67-1-72. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this article, any applicant or holder of a permit issued under this article which is aggrieved by an action of the Department of Revenue to deny his application for a permit, to deny the renewal of his permit or to revoke or suspend his permit shall be allowed to appeal to the Board of Tax Appeals from this action. This appeal is to be filed by the aggrieved person with the Executive Director of the Board of Tax Appeals, with a copy being sent to the Department of Revenue, within fifteen (15) days from the date that person received notice of the action of the department being aggrieved. If the person aggrieved fails to appeal within this fifteen-day period, the action of the Department of Revenue shall take effect as set out in the notice. The Department of Revenue retains the authority to change at any time the action aggrieved to in an appeal under this subsection. The applicant or holder of any permit issued under this article may waive his right to notice and opportunity to a hearing as provided by this subsection and agree to the action being taken by the department. The inability of the Department of Revenue to issue or renew a permit due to an incomplete application or due to the failure of the applicant to pay the annual privilege taxes and fees provided by Section 27-71-5 and/or the failure of the applicant to post or deposit the bond, cash or securities as required by Section 27-71-21 shall not constitute a denial for purposes of this subsection.
(2) Any applicant for approval as a manager of an establishment operating under a permit issued under this article or who holds the designation of an approved manager of an establishment operating under a permit issued under this article and who is aggrieved by an action of the Department of Revenue to deny his application for approval as a manager or to revoke or suspend his designation as an approved manager shall be allowed to appeal to the Board of Tax Appeals from this action. This appeal is to be filed by the aggrieved person with the Executive Director of the Board of Tax Appeals, with a copy being sent to the Department of Revenue, within fifteen (15) days from the date that person received notice of the action of the department being aggrieved. If the person aggrieved fails to appeal within this fifteen-day period, the action of the Department of Revenue shall take effect as set out in the notice. The Department of Revenue retains the authority to change at any time the action aggrieved to in an appeal under this subsection. The applicant or holder of an approved manager designation may waive his right to notice and opportunity to a hearing as provided by this subsection and agree to the action being taken by the department. The inability of the Department of Revenue to consider an application for approval of an applicant as a manager due to an incomplete application shall not constitute a denial of the application for purposes of this subsection.
(3) Any applicant for approval of an area or locality as a qualified resort area under this article who is aggrieved by the decision of the Department of Revenue to deny the qualified resort area as requested and any county or municipality wherein the proposed qualified resort area is located may appeal to the Board of Tax Appeals from such decision. This appeal is to be filed by the aggrieved applicant or by the affected county or municipality with the Executive Director of the Board of Tax Appeals, with a copy being sent to the Department of Revenue, within fifteen (15) days from the date that the person or entity filing the appeal received notice of the decision of the Department of Revenue to deny the qualified resort area. If an appeal is not filed within this fifteen-day period, the decision of the Department of Revenue shall become final. The Department of Revenue retains the authority to change at any time the decision aggrieved to in an appeal under this subsection. The inability of the Department of Revenue to consider an application for the approval of an area or locality as a qualified resort area due to an incomplete application shall not constitute a denial of that application for purposes of this subsection.
(4) Any person, including any county or municipality in which the qualified resort area is located, who is aggrieved by the decision of the Department of Revenue to revoke the approval of an area or locality as a qualified resort area may appeal to the Board of Tax Appeals from such decision. This appeal is to be filed by the aggrieved person with the Executive Director of the Board of Tax Appeals, with a copy being sent to the Department of Revenue, within fifteen (15) days from the date that the person or entity filing the appeal received notice of the decision of the department to revoke approval of the qualified resort area. At the discretion of the Department of Revenue, in addition to any other notice to be provided under this subsection, the department may provide notice of its decision to revoke approval of the qualified resort area by publication in the same manner as provided by regulation when approval of a qualified resort area is sought. In regard to such publication, the fifteen-day period provided herein will begin on the date that notice is first published. If an appeal is not filed within this fifteen-day period, the decision of the Department of Revenue shall become final. The Department of Revenue retains the authority to change at any time the decision aggrieved to in an appeal under this subsection.
(5) Any person objecting to an application for the issuance or transfer of a permit, other than a temporary retailer's permit, issued under this article and who timely requests in writing a hearing on his objection shall be given a hearing before the Board of Tax Appeals unless the permit is denied by the Department of Revenue and an appeal is not taken by the applicant to the Board of Tax Appeals from that denial or the applicant withdraws his application. Any written request for a hearing on an objection must be filed with the Department of Revenue within fifteen (15) days from the first date of publication of the notice of such application under Section 67-1-53. If the department determines that the permit should be denied, notice will be provided to the applicant as set out in subsection (1) of this section, and if the applicant timely requests a hearing on the denial as provided by this subsection (5), the department will advise the Executive Director of the Board of Tax Appeals and the applicant of the written request for a hearing on an objection to the permit. The hearing on the objection to the permit and the hearing on the appeal by the applicant from the denial of the department of the application shall be consolidated and heard by the Board of Tax Appeals at the same time. If the department determines that the permit should be issued, the department will advise the applicant and the Executive Director of the Board of Tax Appeals of the timely written request for a hearing on an objection to the application and a hearing will be set before the Board of Tax Appeals on this objection. If prior to the hearing, either the person requesting the hearing withdraws his request or the applicant withdraws his application, the hearing will be cancelled and the objection proceedings before the Board of Tax Appeals on the application will be dismissed as moot. In the case of such withdrawals, the Board of Tax Appeals is authorized to assess to either or both parties any costs incurred by it prior to such withdrawal. The Department of Revenue retains authority to issue the permit to the applicant where the person objecting to the application withdraws his request for a hearing.
(6) Any person objecting to an application for approval by the Department of Revenue of a area or locality as a qualified resort area under this article and who timely requests in writing a hearing on his objection shall be given a hearing before the Board of Tax Appeals unless approval of the application is denied by the Department of Revenue and an appeal is not taken by the applicant or the county or municipality in which the proposed qualified resort area is located to the Board of Tax Appeals from that denial or the applicant withdraws his application. Any written request for a hearing on an objection must be filed with the Department of Revenue within fifteen (15) days from the first date of publication of the notice of such application as provided by regulation. If the department determines that the application for approval of the proposed area or locality as a qualified resort area should be denied, the department will proceed with denial of such application as set out in subsection (3) of this section, and if the applicant or the county or municipality in which the proposed qualified resort area is located timely requests a hearing on the denial as provided by subsection (3) of this section, the department will advise the Executive Director of the Board of Tax Appeals and the applicant of the written request for a hearing on an objection to the application. The hearing on the objection to approval of the proposed qualified resort area and the hearing on the appeal from the denial of the department of the application for such approval shall be consolidated and heard by the Board of Tax Appeals at the same time. If the department determines that the proposed qualified resort area should be approved, the department will advise the applicant and the Executive Director of the Board of Tax Appeals of the timely written request for a hearing on an objection to the application and a hearing will be set before the Board of Tax Appeals on this objection. If prior to the hearing, either the person requesting the hearing withdraws his request or the applicant withdraws his application, the hearing will be cancelled and the objection proceedings before the Board of Tax Appeals on the application will be dismissed as moot. In the case of such withdrawals, the Board of Tax Appeals is authorized to assess to either or both parties any costs incurred by it prior to such withdrawal. The Department of Revenue retains authority to approve the proposed area or locality as a qualified resort area where the person objecting to the application withdraws his request for a hearing.
(7) Any person having an interest in any alcoholic beverages, light wine, beer, light spirit products or raw materials which the Department of Revenue intends to dispose of under Section 67-1-18 shall be given reasonable notice of this proposed disposal, and upon such notice, this person may request a hearing before the Board of Tax Appeals to establish his right or claim to this property. This request for a hearing shall be filed with the Board of Tax Appeals, with a copy sent to the Department of Revenue, within fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of the notice provided above by the person filing the request. If a request is not received by the Board of Tax Appeals within this fifteen-day period, the department may order the property disposed of in accordance with Section 67-1-18.
(8) Upon receipt of a written request for hearing or appeal as set out above, the executive director shall schedule a hearing before the Board of Tax Appeals on this request or appeal. A notice of the hearing shall be mailed to all persons or entities having an interest in the matter being heard which shall always include the person or entity filing the request or appeal for which the hearing is being set, the applicant or holder of any permit, approved manager status or qualified resort area status in issue, any person who filed a written request for a hearing on an objection to any application in issue and the Department of Revenue. This notice shall provide the date, time and location of the hearing. Mailing to the attorney representing a person or entity in the matter being heard shall be the same as mailing to the person or entity the attorney represents. Failure of the person or entity on whose request or appeal the matter was set for hearing to appear personally or through his designated representative at the hearing shall constitute an involuntary withdrawal of his request or appeal. Upon such withdrawal, the Board of Tax Appeals shall note on the record the failure of the person or entity to appear at the hearing and shall dismiss the request or appeal and remand the matter back to the Department of Revenue for appropriate action.
(9) At any hearing before the Board of Tax Appeals on an appeal or hearing request as set out above, two (2) members of the Board of Tax Appeals shall constitute a quorum. At the hearing, the Board of Tax Appeals shall try the issues presented according to law and the facts and pursuant to any guidelines established by regulation. The rules of evidence shall be relaxed at the hearing and the hearing shall be recorded by a court reporter. After reaching a decision on the issues presented, the Board of Tax Appeals shall enter an order setting forth its findings and decision in the matter. A copy of the order of the Board of Tax Appeals shall be mailed to the person or entity filing the request or appeal which was heard, the applicant or holder of any permit, approved manager status or qualified resort area status in issue, any person who filed a written request for a hearing on an objection to any application in issue and the Department of Revenue to notify them of the findings and decision of the Board of Tax Appeals.
SECTION 24. Section 67-3-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
67-3-5. (1) It shall be lawful, subject to the provisions set forth in this chapter and in Section 67-1-51, in this state to transport, store, sell, distribute, possess, receive, deliver and/or manufacture light wine, light spirit product and beer, and it is hereby declared that it is the legislative intent that this chapter privileges the lawful sale and manufacture, within this state, of such light wines, light spirit products and beer. In determining if a wine product is "light wine," or contains an alcoholic content of more than five percent (5%) by weight, or is not an "alcoholic beverage" as defined in the Local Option Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, Chapter 1 of Title 67, Mississippi Code of 1972, the alcoholic content of such wine product shall be subject to the same permitted tolerance as is allowed by the labeling requirements for light wine provided for in Section 27-71-509.
(2) Subject to the provisions set forth in this chapter and in Section 67-1-51, it shall be lawful in this state to transport, store, sell, distribute, possess, receive, deliver and/or manufacture beer of an alcoholic content of more than eight percent (8%) by weight, if the beer is manufactured to be sold legally in another state and is transported outside of this state for retail sale.
SECTION 25. Section 67-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
67-3-7. (1) If any county, at an election held for the purpose under the election laws of the state, shall by a majority vote of the duly qualified electors voting in the election determine that the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of wine, light spirit product and beer shall not be permitted in such county, then the same shall not be permitted therein except as authorized under Section 67-9-1 and as may be otherwise authorized in this section. An election to determine whether such transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of such beverages shall be excluded from any county in the state, shall, on a petition of twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1,500), whichever number is the lesser, of the duly qualified electors of such county, be ordered by the board of supervisors of the county, for such county only. No election on the question shall be held in any one (1) county more often than once in five (5) years.
In counties which have elected, or may elect by a majority vote of the duly qualified electors voting in the election, that the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of wine, light spirit product or beer shall not be permitted in the county, an election may be held in the same manner as the election hereinabove provided on the question of whether or not the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of said beverages shall be permitted in such county. Such election shall be ordered by the board of supervisors of such county on a petition of twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1,500), whichever number is the lesser, of the duly qualified electors of such county. No election on this question can be ordered more often than once in five (5) years.
(2) Nothing in this section shall make it unlawful to possess beer, light spirit product or light wine, as defined herein.
(3) Nothing in this section shall make it unlawful to:
(a) Sell, distribute and transport light wine, light spirit product or beer to a qualified resort area as defined in Section 67-1-5;
(b) Sell light wine, light spirit product or beer at a qualified resort area as defined in Section 67-1-5 if such light wine, light spirit product or beer is sold by a person with a permit to engage in the business as a retailer of light wine, light spirit product or beer;
(c) Transport beer of an alcoholic content of more than eight percent (8%) by weight if it is being transported to another state for legal sale in that state;
(d) Transport legally purchased light wine, light spirit product or beer in unopened containers; however, this paragraph shall not apply to a retailer unless the retailer has purchased the light wine, light spirit product or beer from a wholesaler or distributor for the designated sales territory in which the retailer is located and the retailer has in his possession an invoice from the wholesaler or distributor for the light wine, light spirit product or beer; or
(e) Transport homemade beer as authorized in Section 67-3-11.
SECTION 26. Section 67-3-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
67-3-9. Any city in this state, having a population of not less than two thousand five hundred (2,500) according to the latest federal decennial census; or any city in this state having a population of not less than one thousand five hundred (1,500) according to the latest federal decennial census and located within three (3) miles of a city or county that permits the sale, receipt, storage and transportation for the purpose of sale of beer, light spirit product or light wine; or any city or town in this state having a population of not less than one thousand (1,000) according to the latest federal decennial census and located in a county that has no city or town with a population of more than two thousand five hundred (2,500); or any city, town or village that is a county seat and has voted to come out from under the dry law under Section 67-1-14; at an election held for the purpose, under the election laws applicable to such city, may either prohibit or permit, except as otherwise provided under Section 67-9-1, the sale and the receipt, storage and transportation for the purpose of sale of beer, light spirit product and light wine. An election to determine whether such sale shall be permitted in cities wherein its sale is prohibited by law shall be ordered by the city or town council or mayor and board of aldermen or other governing body of such city or town for such city or town only, upon the presentation of a petition for such city or town to such governing board containing the names of twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1,500), whichever number is the lesser, of the duly qualified voters of such city or town asking for such election. In like manner, an election to determine whether such sale shall be prohibited in cities wherein its sale is permitted by law shall be ordered by the city council or mayor and board of aldermen or other governing board of such city for such city only, upon the presentation of a petition to such governing board containing the names of twenty percent (20%) of the duly qualified voters of such city asking for such election. No election on either question shall be held by any one (1) city more often than once in five (5) years.
Thirty (30) days' notice shall be given to the qualified electors of such city or town in the manner prescribed by law upon the question of either permitting or prohibiting such sale, and the notice shall contain a statement of the question to be voted on at the election. The tickets to be used in the election shall have the following words printed thereon: "For the legal sale of light wine of an alcoholic content of not more than five percent (5%) by weight, light spirit product of an alcoholic content of not more than six percent (6%) by weight, and beer of an alcoholic content of not more than eight percent (8%) by weight"; and the words "Against the legal sale of light wine of an alcoholic content of not more than five percent (5%) by weight, light spirit product of an alcoholic content of not more than six percent (6%) by weight, and beer of an alcoholic content of not more than eight percent (8%) by weight," next below. In making up his or her ticket the voter shall make a cross (X) opposite the words of his choice.
If in the election a majority of the qualified electors voting in the election shall vote "For the legal sale of light wine of an alcoholic content of not more than five percent (5%) by weight, light spirit product of an alcoholic content of not more than six percent (6%) by weight, and beer of an alcoholic content of not more than eight percent (8%) by weight," then the city or town council or mayor and board of aldermen or other governing body shall pass the necessary order permitting the legal sale of such light wine, light spirit product and beer in such city or town. If in the election a majority of the qualified electors voting in the election shall vote "Against the legal sale of light wine of an alcoholic content of not more than five percent (5%) by weight, light spirit product of an alcoholic content of not more than six percent (6%) by weight, and beer of an alcoholic content of not more than eight percent (8%) by weight," then the city council or mayor and board of aldermen or other governing body shall pass the necessary order prohibiting the sale of such light wine, light spirit product and beer in such city.
All laws or parts of laws in conflict with this section are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict only, this section being cumulative and supplementary.
SECTION 27. Section 67-3-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
67-3-13. (1) It shall be lawful to possess beer, light spirit product and light wine throughout the state, unless otherwise prohibited by this chapter. However, nothing herein shall be construed to make lawful the possession of beer, light spirit product or light wine with the intent to sell except as authorized by this chapter.
(2) In any county or municipality in which the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of light wine, light spirit product and beer is prohibited, it shall not be unlawful for a permitted wholesaler or distributor to possess light wine, light spirit product and beer when such light wine, light spirit product and beer is held therein solely for the purpose of storage and for distribution to other counties and municipalities in which transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture is lawful.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section, in any county in which transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of light wine, light spirit product and beer is prohibited, it shall not be unlawful:
(a) To receive or store light wine, light spirit product or beer at a resort area as defined in Section 67-1-5;
(b) To distribute and transport light wine, light spirit product or beer to a resort area as defined in Section 67-1-5;
(c) To transport beer of an alcoholic content of more than eight percent (8%) by weight if it is being transported to another state for legal sale in that state;
(d) To transport legally purchased light wine, light spirit product or beer in unopened containers if it is being transported on a state or federal highway; however, this paragraph shall not apply to a retailer unless the retailer has purchased the light wine, light spirit product or beer from a wholesaler or distributor for the designated sales territory in which the retailer is located and the retailer has in his possession an invoice from the wholesaler or distributor for the light wine, light spirit product or beer; or
(e) To transport homemade beer as authorized in Section 67-3-11.
(4) Any light wine, light spirit product or beer found in possession of, or sold by, a person in violation of this section shall be seized and disposed of in the manner provided for in Section 67-1-18.
SECTION 28. Section 67-3-67, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
67-3-67. No county or any officer or agent thereof, nor any other officer, agent, or person, shall interfere with or impede the passage through such county of any light wine, light spirit product or beer moving in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of Section 67-9-1 and which in transit to or from any county of this state wherein the traffic in light wines, light spirit products and beer is not prohibited, any county prohibition of such traffic to the contrary notwithstanding.
SECTION 29. Section 57-26-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:
57-26-1. As used in Sections 57-26-1 through 57-26-5, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(a) "Approved project costs" means actual costs incurred by an approved participant for land acquisition, construction, engineering, design and other costs approved by the Mississippi Development Authority relating to a tourism project; however, for the purposes of a tourism project described in paragraph (d)(iv) of this section, such costs include only those incurred after January 1, 2011, relating to the hotel portion of the project consisting of facilities used for lodging and common areas in that portion of the project. All costs must be verified by an independent third party approved by the MDA. An approved participant shall pay the costs for the third-party verification of costs. Approved project costs may not increase regardless of the actual costs incurred by the project.
(b) "Approved participant" means a person, corporation or other entity issued a certificate by the Mississippi Development Authority under Section 57-26-5.
(c) "MDA" means the Mississippi Development Authority.
(d) "Tourism project" shall include any of the following as may be approved by the MDA:
(i) Theme parks, water parks, entertainment parks or outdoor adventure parks, cultural or historical interpretive educational centers or museums, motor speedways, indoor or outdoor entertainment centers or complexes, convention centers, professional sports facilities, spas, attractions created around a natural phenomenon or scenic landscape and marinas open to the public with a minimum private investment of not less than Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00);
(ii) A hotel with a minimum private investment of Forty Million Dollars ($40,000,000.00) in land, buildings, architecture, engineering, fixtures, equipment, furnishings, amenities and other related soft costs approved by the Mississippi Development Authority, and having a minimum private investment of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) per guest room which amount shall be included within the minimum private investment of Forty Million Dollars ($40,000,000.00);
(iii) A public golf course with a minimum private investment of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00);
(iv) A full service hotel with a minimum private investment of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000.00) in land, buildings, architecture, engineering, fixtures, equipment, furnishings, amenities and other related soft costs approved by the Mississippi Development Authority, and having a minimum private investment of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) per guest room or suite which amount shall be included within the minimum private investment of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000.00), a minimum of twenty-five (25) guest rooms or suites, and guest amenities such as restaurants, spas and other amenities as determined by the Mississippi Development Authority; however, in a county in which the Grammy Museum Mississippi or the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center is located, in a county in which the Saenger Theater and the main campus of a state institution of higher learning are located, and in the downtown historic district of the city in which the NWCC Performing Arts Center is located, the minimum private investment per guest room or suite shall be One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) which amount shall be included within the minimum private investment of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000.00);
(v) A tourism attraction located within an "entertainment district" as defined in Section 17-29-3 that is open to the public, has seating to accommodate at least forty (40) persons, is open at least five (5) days per week from at least 6:00 p.m. until midnight, serves food and beverages, and provides live entertainment at least three (3) nights per week;
(vi) A cultural retail attraction;
(vii) A tourism attraction located within a historic district where the district is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, where the tourism attraction is open to the public, has seating to accommodate at least forty (40) persons, is open at least five (5) days per week from at least 6:00 p.m. until midnight, serves food and beverages, and provides live entertainment at least three (3) nights per week;
(viii) A tourism attraction, located in a county bordered by the Mississippi River and including Interstate 69 and U.S. Highways 3, 4 and 61, with a minimum investment of One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000.00) and subject to an urban renewal plan that redevelops two (2) hotels, a golf course and clubhouse, a shooting range and a convention center and develops an entertainment center and waterpark, together with other attraction-related amenities, on an area not less than two thousand (2,000) acres.
The term "tourism project" does not include any licensed gaming establishment owned, leased or controlled by a business, corporation or entity having a gaming license issued under Section 75-76-1 et seq.; however, the term "tourism project" may include a project described in this paragraph (d) that is owned, leased or controlled by such a business, corporation or entity or in which the business, corporation or entity has a direct or indirect financial interest if the project is in excess of development that the State Gaming Commission requires for the issuance or renewal of a gaming license and is not part of a licensed gaming establishment in which gaming activities are conducted.
The term "tourism project" does not include any facility within the project whose primary business is retail sales or any expansions of existing projects; however, pro shops, souvenir shops, gift shops, concessions and similar retail activities, and cultural retail attractions may be included within the definition of the term "tourism project." In addition, retail activities, regardless of whether the primary business is retail sales, that are part of a resort development may be included within the definition of "tourism project."
(e) "Resort development" means a travel destination development with a minimum private investment of One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000.00) and which consists of (i) a hotel with a minimum of two hundred (200) guest rooms or suites and having a minimum private investment of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) per guest room or suite, and (ii) guest amenities such as restaurants, golf courses, spas, fitness facilities, entertainment activities and other amenities as determined by the MDA. Not more than an amount equal to forty percent (40%) of the private investment required by this paragraph may be expended on facilities to house retail activity.
(f) "Cultural retail attraction" means a project which combines destination shopping with cultural or historical interpretive elements specific to Mississippi with a minimum private investment of Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00) in land, buildings, architecture, engineering, fixtures, equipment, furnishings, amenities and other related soft costs approved by the Mississippi Development Authority and which:
(i) Is located in a qualified resort area as defined in Section 67-1-5;
(ii) Is a part of a master-planned development with a total investment of not less than One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000.00) in land, buildings, architecture, engineering, fixtures, equipment, furnishings, amenities and other related soft costs approved by the Mississippi Development Authority;
(iii) Has a minimum of fifty (50) retail tenants with a minimum of three hundred thousand (300,000) square feet of heated and cooled space; and
(iv) Has a minimum investment of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) in one or more of the following:
1. Art created by Mississippi artists or portraying themes specific to Mississippi;
2. Memorabilia, signage or historical markers which serve to promote the State of Mississippi;
3. Audio/visual equipment used to showcase Mississippi artists;
4. A minimum of one thousand two hundred fifty (1,250) square feet of heated and cooled space available to the Mississippi Development Authority or its assignee for a period of not less than ten (10) years.
(g) "Retail activity" means businesses whose inventory consists primarily of upscale name brands or their equivalent as determined by the MDA.
(h) "State" means the State of Mississippi.
SECTION 30. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after January 1, 2025.