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LRB-5495/2
ARG:all
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
February 10, 2020 - Introduced by Representatives Swearingen, Kuglitsch,
Vorpagel, Schraa, Loudenbeck, Summerfield, Fields, Haywood and Sinicki.
Referred to Committee on State Affairs.
AB869,1,11 1An Act to renumber and amend 125.12 (5); to amend 125.27 (4), 125.32 (3)
2(c), 125.51 (5) (b) (title), 125.51 (5) (b) 4., 125.51 (5) (e), 125.68 (4) (c) 3m. and
3125.68 (4) (c) 4.; and to create 125.07 (3) (a) 17., 125.12 (5) (b), 125.20, 125.26
4(2v), 125.27 (5), 125.27 (6), 125.32 (3) (e), 125.32 (3m) (k), 125.51 (3) (bv), 125.51
5(5) (b) 1. f., 125.51 (5) (b) 2m., 125.51 (5) (f) and 125.68 (4) (d) of the statutes;
6relating to: creating a private event venue permit issued by the Department
7of Revenue; the issuance by the Department of Revenue of retail alcohol
8beverage permits for motor vehicle racetrack grounds and for the state fair
9park; authorizing caterers to make retail sales of alcohol beverages on
10racetrack grounds; closing hours for certain alcohol beverage retailers and
11wineries and hours for retail sales by brewers; and providing a penalty.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill creates a private event venue permit issued by the Department of
Revenue and generally prohibits the rental or lease of property for private events at
which fermented malt beverages (beer) or intoxicating liquor, which includes wine
and distilled spirits, is consumed without this permit. This bill also authorizes DOR

to issue retail alcohol beverage permits for motor vehicle racetrack grounds and for
the state fair park. This bill authorizes caterers to make retail sales of alcohol
beverages on racetrack grounds. The bill further establishes hours during which
brewers may not make retail sales of alcohol beverages and makes changes relating
to the retail sales hours of wineries. This bill also creates an exception allowing
municipalities to authorize extended closing hours for alcohol beverage retailers,
wineries, and brewers during the time that the 2020 Democratic National
Convention is held in Milwaukee.
Private event venue permits
Under this bill, DOR may issue to property owners private event venue permits
that authorize the permittee to rent or lease property for use as a venue for a private
event at which beer or intoxicating liquor is consumed. A permit does not authorize
the sale of any alcohol beverages, but the host of the event may possess and consume,
and allow the possession and consumption by others, on the premises, of beer and
intoxicating liquor purchased from a retailer rather than a wholesaler. Upon the
conclusion of the event, the host may remove from the premises any remaining beer
and intoxicating liquor that is in an unopened, original container. The premises
covered by the permit may not remain open during hours in which Class “B” and
“Class B” retail licensed premises must be closed. Requirements applicable to Class
“B" and “Class B” retail licensees and licensed premises otherwise apply to private
event venue permittees and premises covered by these permits, including the
requirements that operations on the premises are supervised by a licensed bartender
and that unaccompanied underage persons not be allowed on the premises. An
applicant for a private event venue permit must provide proof of liability insurance
and a permit may not be issued for property covered by another alcohol beverages
license or permit.
With exceptions, the bill prohibits a person from renting or leasing property to
another for use as a venue for a private event at which beer or intoxicating liquor is
consumed unless the person holds a private event venue permit and consumption of
the beer or intoxicating liquor occurs on the premises covered by this permit. The
bill provides exceptions to this prohibition for certain types of property, including
property covered by an alcohol beverages license or permit; hotel rooms and vacation
rental property; property used primarily for parking; certain property used in
connection with professional football or baseball games or amateur sporting events;
and property used by a nonprofit organization.
New retail permits issued by DOR
Under current law, with limited exceptions, no person may sell alcohol
beverages to a consumer unless the seller possesses a license or permit authorizing
the sale. Municipalities may issue retail Class “B” licenses authorizing the sale of
beer, and retail “Class B” licenses authorizing the sale of intoxicating liquor, to
consumers. Under certain circumstances, DOR may issue retail Class “B” and “Class
B” permits authorizing the retail sale of beer and intoxicating liquor to consumers.
This bill also authorizes DOR to issue retail Class “B” and “Class B” permits for
racetrack grounds. The bill defines “racetrack grounds" as property consisting of at
least 300 acres containing a motor vehicle racetrack at least four miles in length

capable of hosting professional racing events, and includes any building or other
structure on this property associated with the racetrack or with services provided in
connection with events held at the racetrack. Under the bill, DOR may issue
Class “B" and “Class B” permits, for locations within racetrack grounds, to the owner
or operator of the racetrack grounds or to any person designated by the owner or
operator of the racetrack grounds to operate premises located within the racetrack
grounds. Class “B” and “Class B” permits issued by DOR for racetrack grounds
authorize the retail sale of beer and intoxicating liquor at the location within the
racetrack grounds specified in the permit, for possession and consumption anywhere
within the racetrack grounds. Class “B” and “Class B” permits do not authorize the
sale of beer and intoxicating liquor for consumption away from the racetrack grounds
and do not authorize the sale of beer and intoxicating liquor at any designated
camping area on racetrack grounds while the area is in use for camping. The bill
contains an exception allowing underage persons to be present on those locations at
racetrack grounds for which Class “B” or “Class B” permits are issued.
This bill allows DOR to issue Class “B” and “Class B” permits to vendors
authorizing the retail sale of beer and intoxicating liquor at the state fair park if the
State Fair Park Board has, by resolution, annually applied to DOR for the permit.
Under the bill, a “vendor” is a person that has entered into a vendor agreement with
the State Fair Park Board authorizing the person to sell alcohol beverages at the
state fair park.
Retail sales by caterers off licensed premises
Current law generally requires a retail licensee to make retail sales of alcohol
beverages only in a face-to-face transaction on the retail licensed premises,
although the retail licensee may thereafter deliver and serve the alcohol beverages
at another location. An exception allows a caterer to make retail sales off its licensed
premises during a special event held at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay
or at the Heritage Hill State Park, if no retail license has been issued for this museum
or park. A “caterer” is defined as a person who holds a restaurant license and who
is in the business of preparing food and transporting it for consumption at
gatherings, meetings, or events if the sale of food at each gathering, meeting, or event
accounts for greater than 50 percent of the gross receipts of all of the food and
beverages served at the gathering, meeting, or event.
This bill allows a caterer to make retail sales of alcohol beverages off its licensed
premises on racetrack grounds, except at a designated camping area while the area
is in use for camping and except on premises for which DOR has issued a retail permit
for the racetrack grounds.
Closing hours for certain retailers
Under current law, with limited exceptions, no person may sell alcohol
beverages to a consumer unless the seller possesses a license or permit authorizing
the sale. A Class “B" license authorizes the retail sale of beer for consumption on or
off the premises. Except when issued to a winery, a “Class B" license authorizes the
retail sale of intoxicating liquor, which includes wine and distilled spirits, for
consumption on the licensed premises and, subject to restrictions, the retail sale of
intoxicating liquor in original packages for consumption off the licensed premises.

Class “B” and “Class B” licenses are often issued together for restaurants and
taverns. A “Class C" license, which may be issued only for a restaurant, authorizes
the retail sale of wine for consumption on the premises. A retailer operating under
a Class “B," “Class B,” or “Class C” license may not remain open between the hours
of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays or between 2:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Saturday and
Sunday, and a municipality may not impose different closing hours by ordinance.
However, there is no closing hour on January 1 for Class “B” and “Class B” licensed
retailers. The hours during which a Class “B” or “Class B” licensed retailer may
make sales for off-premises consumption are more limited, with these sales
prohibited from midnight to 6 a.m., although a municipality may, by ordinance,
impose more restrictive hours for these sales.
This bill creates a closing hour exception that may be available for Class “B,”
“Class B,” and “Class C” licensees. Under the bill, from July 13 to July 17, 2020, the
closing hour for a Class “B,” “Class B,” or “Class C” licensee is 4 a.m. if the
municipality issuing the license authorizes, upon application, the extended closing
hour. Alternatively, a municipality may, by ordinance, opt out and retain the regular,
unextended closing hour for all licensees. This bill does not affect the hours during
which a Class “B” or “Class B” licensee may make sales for off-premises
consumption.
Retail closing hours for wineries
Current law allows a winery to hold a retail “Class B" license, but, unlike other
“Class B” licenses, a winery's “Class B” license authorizes only the sale of wine. A
winery operating under a retail “Class B" license may not remain open for retail sales
of wine between the hours of 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.
This bill changes the closing hour for wineries operating under a “Class B"
license from 9 p.m. to midnight, but allows municipalities to establish, by ordinance,
more restrictive closing hours for these wineries. From July 13 to July 17, 2020, a
winery is eligible for extended closing hours to the same extent applicable for other
“Class B” licensees within the same municipality.
Brewer hours of sale
Current law allows a brewer holding a brewer's permit to sell at retail, without
a retail license, beer for consumption on or off the brewery premises or the brewer's
off-site retail outlet. If the brewer held an intoxicating liquor license on June 1, 2011,
the brewer may also sell at retail, without a retail license, intoxicating liquor for
consumption on the brewery premises or the brewer's off-site retail outlet. Current
law does not specify permissible hours of sale for these retail sales by a brewer.
This bill prohibits a brewer from making retail sales of beer and intoxicating
liquor during hours in which a Class “B” or “Class B” licensed premises must be
closed. As with a Class “B” or “Class B” licensee, a municipality may not impose more
restrictive hours for retail sales for on-premises consumption but may impose more
restrictive hours for retail sales for off-premises consumption. From July 13 to July
17, 2020, a brewer is eligible for the same extended closing hours applicable to Class
“B,” “Class B,” and “Class C” licensees if the municipality has elected to extend
closing hours for these retail licensees.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,
the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a
report.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB869,1 1Section 1. 125.07 (3) (a) 17. of the statutes is created to read:
AB869,5,32 125.07 (3) (a) 17. Premises for which a Class “B" permit is issued under s.
3125.27 (5) or a “Class B" permit is issued under s. 125.51 (5) (f).
AB869,2 4Section 2 . 125.12 (5) of the statutes is renumbered 125.12 (5) (a) and amended
5to read:
AB869,5,116 125.12 (5) (a) The department may, after notice and an opportunity for hearing,
7revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew any retail permit issued by it for the causes
8provided in sub. (4) and any other permit issued by it under this chapter for any
9violation of this chapter or ch. 139, except that, for a violation of sub. (4) (ag) 6. with
10respect to a license issued under s. 125.51 (4) (v) or
a violation of s. 125.535 or
11139.035, the department shall revoke the license or permit.
AB869,5,13 12(c) A revocation, suspension, or refusal to renew a permit under par. (a) or (b)
13is a contested case under ch. 227.
AB869,3 14Section 3 . 125.12 (5) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB869,5,1915 125.12 (5) (b) The department may, after notice and an opportunity for hearing,
16revoke any permit issued under s. 125.27 (5) or 125.51 (5) (f) to a person designated
17by the owner or operator of racetrack grounds as provided in s. 125.27 (5) (b) or 125.51
18(5) (f) 2. if the person's designation has terminated or the owner or operator of the
19racetrack grounds has otherwise rescinded the person's designation.
AB869,4
1Section 4. 125.20 of the statutes is created to read:
AB869,6,5 2125.20 Private event venue permit; prohibition. (1) Permit issuance. (a)
3The department may issue to property owners private event venue permits that
4authorize the permittee to rent or lease real property for use as a venue for a private
5event at which fermented malt beverages or intoxicating liquor is consumed.
AB869,6,86 (b) A private event venue permit may be issued only to a person who holds a
7valid certificate issued under s. 73.03 (50) and is qualified under s. 125.04 (5), except
8a person acting as an agent for or in the employ of another.
AB869,6,119 (c) A private event venue permit may not be issued to a person unless the person
10has provided to the department proof of liability insurance covering the premises for
11which the permit is issued.
AB869,6,1612 (d) A permit may not be issued under this section for premises that are covered
13by any other license or permit under this chapter, but a caterer holding a Class “B”
14or “Class B” license may deliver fermented malt beverages or intoxicating liquor to
15premises described in a permit under this section and may provide services in
16conjunction with the delivery.
AB869,6,1717 (e) The annual fee for a permit issued under this section shall be $750.
AB869,6,20 18(2) Operational requirements. All provisions of this chapter applying to Class
19“B" and “Class B” licenses and licensees apply to private event venue permits and
20permittees, except as follows:
AB869,6,2221 (a) A permit issued under this section does not authorize the sale of any alcohol
22beverages.
AB869,7,423 (b) The host of an event held on premises covered by a permit issued under this
24section may possess and consume, and allow the possession and consumption by
25others, on the premises, of fermented malt beverages and intoxicating liquor

1purchased from a retail licensee or permittee rather than a wholesaler. Upon the
2conclusion of an event, the host may remove from the premises any remaining
3fermented malt beverages and intoxicating liquor that is in an unopened, original
4container.
AB869,7,105 (c) No premises for which a permit under this section is issued may remain open
6between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. On January 1 premises operating under a
7permit under this section are not required to close. On Saturday and Sunday, no such
8premises may remain open between 2:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. except that, on the Sunday
9that daylight saving time begins as specified in s. 175.095 (2), no such premises may
10remain open between 3:30 a.m. and 6 a.m.
AB869,7,15 11(3) Prohibition. (a) No person may rent or lease real property to another for
12use as a venue for a private event at which fermented malt beverages or intoxicating
13liquor is consumed unless the person holds a permit issued under this section and
14consumption of the fermented malt beverages or intoxicating liquor occurs on the
15premises covered by the permit.
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