HB 2476

CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
  ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2476
  Chapter 30, Laws of 2026
  69th Legislature
  2026 Regular Session
 SPIRITS, BEER, AND WINE THEATER LICENSE—MAXIMUM SEATS
  EFFECTIVE DATE: June 11, 2026
Passed by the House February 16, 2026  CERTIFICATE
  Yeas 81 Nays 15
  I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the
  House of Representatives of the
  LAURIE JINKINS  State of Washington, do hereby
Speaker of the House of  certify   that   the   attached   is
Representatives  ENGROSSED   SUBSTITUTE  HOUSE   BILL
  2476 as passed by the House of
  Representatives and the Senate on
  the dates hereon set forth.
Passed by the Senate March 3, 2026
  Yeas 38 Nays 10
  BERNARD DEAN
  DENNY HECK  Chief Clerk
President of the Senate
Approved March 11, 2026 10:41 AM  FILED
  March 12, 2026
  Secretary of State
  BOB FERGUSON  State of Washington
Governor of the State of Washington
  ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2476
  Passed Legislature - 2026 Regular Session
State of Washington  69th Legislature        2026 Regular Session
By House Consumer Protection & Business        (originally   sponsored   by
Representatives Dufault and Corry)
READ FIRST TIME 01/30/26.
1     AN ACT Relating to removing the requirement that a theater may
2 have no more than 120 seats per screen to qualify for a spirits,
3 beer, and wine theater license; and amending RCW 66.24.655.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
5     Sec. 1.   RCW 66.24.655 and 2025 c 343 s 49 are each amended to
6 read as follows:
7     (1)(a) There is a theater license to sell spirits, beer,
8 including strong beer, or wine, or all, at retail, for consumption on
9 theater premises. A spirits, beer, and wine theater license may be
10 issued only to theaters that have no more than ((120)) 200 seats per
11 screen and that are maintained in a substantial manner as a place for
12 preparing, cooking, and serving complete meals and providing tabletop
13 accommodations for in-theater dining.
14     (b) Requirements for complete meals are the same as those adopted
15 by the board in rules pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW for a spirits,
16 beer, and wine restaurant license authorized by RCW 66.24.400. The
17 annual fee for a spirits, beer, and wine theater license is $2,500.
18     (2) If the theater premises is to be frequented by minors, an
19 alcohol control plan must be submitted to the board at the time of
20 application. The alcohol control plan must be approved by the board
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1 and be prominently posted on the premises, prior to minors being
2 allowed. Alcohol control plan measures must include at least:
3     (a) Regular monitoring by staff who have completed an alcohol
4 server training program;
5     (b) Electronic identification scanners used at all points of sale
6 for alcoholic beverage purchases; and
7     (c) Identification checks for all alcoholic beverage purchases
8 regardless of the age of the consumer.
9     (3) For the purposes of this section:
10     (a) "Alcohol control plan" means a written, dated, and signed
11 plan submitted to the board by an applicant or licensee for the
12 entire theater premises, or rooms or areas therein, that shows where
13 and when alcohol is permitted, where and when minors are permitted,
14 and the control measures used to ensure that minors are not able to
15 obtain alcohol or be exposed to environments where drinking alcohol
16 predominates.
17     (b) "Theater" means a place of business where motion pictures or
18 other primarily nonparticipatory entertainment are shown.
19     (4) The board must adopt rules regarding alcohol control plans
20 and necessary control measures to ensure that minors are not able to
21 obtain alcohol or be exposed to areas where drinking alcohol
22 predominates. All alcohol control plans must include a requirement
23 that any person involved in the serving of spirits, beer, and/or wine
24 must have completed a mandatory alcohol server training program.
25     (5)(a) A licensee that is an entity that is exempt from taxation
26 under Title 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3) of the federal internal revenue
27 code of 1986, as amended as of January 1, 2013, may enter into
28 arrangements with a spirits, beer, or wine manufacturer, importer, or
29 distributor for brand advertising at the theater or promotion of
30 events held at the theater. The financial arrangements providing for
31 the brand advertising or promotion of events may not be used as an
32 inducement to purchase the products of the manufacturer, importer, or
33 distributor entering into the arrangement and such arrangements may
34 not result in the exclusion of brands or products of other companies.
35     (b) The arrangements allowed under this subsection (5) are an
36 exception to arrangements prohibited under RCW 66.28.305. The board
37 must monitor the impacts of these arrangements. The board may conduct
38 audits of a licensee and the affiliated business to determine
39 compliance with this subsection (5). Audits may include, but are not
40 limited to: Product selection at the facility; purchase patterns of
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1 the licensee; contracts with the spirits, beer, or wine manufacturer,
2 importer, or distributor; and the amount allocated or used for
3 spirits, beer, or wine advertising by the licensee, affiliated
4 business,   manufacturer,   importer,   or   distributor   under   the
5 arrangements.
6     (6) The maximum penalties prescribed by the board in WAC
7 314-29-020 relating to fines and suspensions are double for
8 violations involving minors or the failure to follow the alcohol
9 control plan with respect to theaters licensed under this section.
  Passed by the House February 16, 2026.
  Passed by the Senate March 3, 2026.
  Approved by the Governor March 11, 2026.
  Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 12, 2026.
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