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HB975Introduced in the House of Delegates

Alcoholic beverage control; food-to-beverage ratio, report.

Passed

Introduced by Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, District 5

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Alcoholic beverage control; food-to-beverage ratio; report. Reduces the current 45 percent food-to-beverage ratio for certain mixed beverage licensees. The bill requires that a mixed beverage restaurant, caterer's, or limited caterer's licensee meet or exceed the following: (i) for such licensees with monthly food sales averaging at least $48,000, the food-to-beverage ratio shall not apply; (ii) for such licensees with monthly food sales averaging at least $25,000 but less than $48,000, the food-to-beverage ratio shall meet or exceed 30 percent; and (iii) for such licensees with monthly food sales averaging at least $4,000, but less than $25,000, the food-to-beverage ratio shall meet or exceed 45 percent, except that for any licensee with monthly food sales averaging less than $25,000 with a seating capacity of less than 30 seats and an occupancy permit for less than 60 people total, the food-to-beverage ratio shall meet or exceed 30 percent. The bill also requires that restaurants have at least as many seats at tables as at counters. The bill requires the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to collect data regarding the compliance of mixed beverage licensees with the provisions of the bill and the impact of the change to the food-to-beverage ratio on the gross amount of food consumed on a licensee's premises. The bill requires the Authority to report such data to the Chairs of the House Committee on General Laws and the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services by November 1, 2027.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0719)

April 13, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Passed Senate (35-Y 4-N 0-A) · February 24, 2026

35

Yes

4

No

1

Absent or Not Voting

40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1Yes
Mark Obenshain2Yes
Chris Head3Yes
David Suetterlein4Yes
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6Yes
William Stanley7Yes
Mark Peake8Yes

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103975D

  2. Referred to Committee on General Laws

  3. Assigned HGL sub: ABC/Gaming

  4. House subcommittee offered

  5. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 3-N)

  6. Reported from General Laws with amendment(s) (18-Y 3-N)

  7. Read first time

  8. Passed by for the day

  9. Read second time

  10. committee amendment agreed to

  11. Engrossed by House as amended

  12. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB975)

  13. Read third time and passed House (87-Y 10-N 0-A)

  14. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB975)

  15. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  16. Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services

  17. Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services (13-Y 2-N)

  18. Rules suspended

  19. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

  20. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  21. Read third time

  22. Passed Senate (36-Y 3-N 0-A)

  23. Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  24. Passed Senate (35-Y 4-N 0-A)

  25. Enrolled

  26. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB975ER)

  27. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB975)

  28. Signed by Speaker

  29. Signed by President

  30. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

  31. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  32. Approved by Governor-Chapter 719 (effective 7/1/2026)

  33. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0719)

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