Senate Bill 23-34 would amend the definition of "alcoholic beverage establishment" in North Dakota Century Code to explicitly include licensed brewer taprooms, allowing those premises to be eligible locations for charitable gaming.

Senator Justin Gerhardt (District 34) introduced the bill, saying the Century Code currently treats taprooms and brewpubs under different licensing chapters and that taprooms were inadvertently omitted from the statutory definition used for charitable gaming. "This bill simply would include tap rooms to have the ability to conduct charitable gaming," Gerhardt said.

Supporters, including Scott Meske of the North Dakota Gaming Alliance, told the committee taprooms meet common-sense expectations of an alcoholic beverage establishment and noted the taproom license is issued by the tax department rather than the Attorney General’s office. Meske said minors may be allowed in taprooms under conditions set in state law — they must be supervised, not be at the bar and be off premises by 10 p.m. Deb McDaniel, director of the gaming division in the Attorney General’s Office, said the office licenses traditional state liquor licenses and had not previously considered taprooms because they are licensed through the tax department. She said the AG's office could accept notification from the tax department about taproom sites and did not see regulatory obstacles.

Committee members asked practical questions about underage access and agency administration; witnesses said those are governed by existing law and business choices. After testimony, the committee closed the hearing and the bill was held for action next week to allow review of a proposed amendment. The committee chair said a proposed amendment had been circulated and the bill will be set again next week.