HF 4776

03/12/26   REVISOR  JSK/BM  26-07850
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request  State of Minnesota
  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
  H. F. No.   4776
03/26/2026     Authored by Joy
  The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce Finance and Policy
1.1A bill for an act
1.2relating to liquor; allowing the cities of Moorhead, Dilworth, and Detroit Lakes
1.3to issue a social district license.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5Section 1. CITIES OF MOORHEAD, DILWORTH, AND DETROIT LAKES;
1.6SPECIAL LICENSE.
1.7Subdivision 1. Social district; consumption allowed. The cities of Moorhead, Dilworth,
1.8and Detroit Lakes may issue a social district license to any holder of an on-sale license
1.9whose on-sale premises is contiguous with the premises of the social district designated in
1.10subdivision 2. The license authorizes consumption, but not sales or service, of alcoholic
1.11beverages sold by the on-sale licensee within the social district.
1.12Subd. 2. Designation of social district. (a) Prior to issuing the license in subdivision 1,
1.13the cities of Moorhead, Dilworth, and Detroit Lakes must designate and describe the premises
1.14of the social district. The district may not include any area under the ownership or control
1.15of a person that objects to the extension of the social district to that area.
1.16(b) The designation must include the specific premises where consumption of alcoholic
1.17beverages is allowed and also include the proposed hours and days in which consumption
1.18of alcoholic beverages is allowed in the social district. The cities of Moorhead, Dilworth,
1.19and Detroit Lakes must adopt the designation by ordinance prior to issuing the license in
1.20subdivision 1.
1.21Subd. 3. Boundaries clearly defined. The social district must be clearly defined with
1.22signs posted in a conspicuous location indicating the area included in the social district and
Section 1.  1
03/12/26   REVISOR  JSK/BM  26-07850
2.1  the days and hours during which alcoholic beverages may be consumed in the district. In
2.2  addition, signs must include:
2.3      (1) the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the area comprising the
2.4  social district; and
2.5      (2) a clear statement that an alcoholic beverage purchased for consumption in the social
2.6  district shall:
2.7      (i) only be consumed in the social district; and
2.8      (ii) be disposed of before the person in possession of the alcoholic beverage exits the
2.9  social district unless the person is reentering the licensed premises where the alcoholic
2.10 beverage was purchased.
2.11     Subd. 4. Management and maintenance. The cities of Moorhead, Dilworth, and Detroit
2.12 Lakes must establish management and maintenance plans for the social district and post
2.13 these plans, along with a rendering of the boundaries of the social district and days and
2.14 hours during which alcoholic beverages may be consumed in the district, on the website
2.15 for the cities of Moorhead, Dilworth, and Detroit Lakes. The social district must be
2.16 maintained in a manner that protects the health and safety of the general public.
2.17     Subd. 5. Requirements for on-sale licensees. An on-sale licensee holding a social
2.18 district license may only sell and serve alcoholic beverages on the premises specified in the
2.19 licensee's on-sale license. The licensee must not allow a person to enter or reenter its on-sale
2.20 licensed premises with an alcoholic beverage not sold by the on-sale licensee. Sales for
2.21 consumption in the social district must meet the following container requirements:
2.22     (1) the container clearly identifies the on-sale licensee from which the alcoholic beverage
2.23 was purchased;
2.24     (2) the container clearly displays a logo or some other mark that is unique to the social
2.25 district in which it will be consumed;
2.26     (3) the container is not comprised of glass;
2.27     (4) the container displays, in no less than 12-point font, the statement, "Drink Responsibly
2.28 - Be 21."; and
2.29     (5) the container shall not hold more than 16 fluid ounces.
2.30     Subd. 6. Additional social district requirements. The possession and consumption of
2.31 an alcoholic beverage in a social district is subject to all of the following requirements:
Section 1.  2
03/12/26   REVISOR  JSK/BM  26-07850
3.1      (1) only alcoholic beverages purchased from an on-sale licensee holding a social district
3.2  license located in or contiguous to the social district may be possessed and consumed in the
3.3  district;
3.4      (2) alcoholic beverages shall only be in containers meeting the requirements set forth
3.5  in subdivision 5;
3.6      (3) alcoholic beverages shall only be possessed and consumed during the days and hours
3.7  set by the cities of Moorhead, Dilworth, and Detroit Lakes as specified in subdivision 2;
3.8  and
3.9      (4) a person shall dispose of any alcoholic beverage in the person's possession prior to
3.10 exiting the social district unless the person is reentering the on-sale licensed premises where
3.11 the alcoholic beverage was purchased.
3.12     EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective upon approval by the cities of Moorhead,
3.13 Dilworth, and Detroit Lakes City Councils and compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section
3.14 645.021.
Section 1.  3