Repeals § 3-7-19 which prohibits retail liquor licenses within two hundred feet (200') of schools and religious institutions.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would remove an existing Rhode Island law that currently prevents businesses from obtaining a retail liquor license if they are located within 200 feet of a school or religious institution (such as a church, mosque, or synagogue). Right now, that 200-foot buffer zone is a hard rule written into state law, meaning no exceptions are allowed regardless of local circumstances.

If passed, this change would mean that the state-level prohibition would no longer exist, potentially allowing bars, liquor stores, or other alcohol-selling businesses to open closer to schools and houses of worship than is currently permitted. It is worth noting that local city and town governments in Rhode Island often have their own rules and licensing processes, so communities could still have the ability to set their own distance requirements — but the statewide minimum protection would be gone.

This bill could affect school communities, religious organizations, business owners seeking liquor licenses, and local licensing boards across Rhode Island. Supporters of such a change might argue that local governments are better suited to make these decisions than a one-size-fits-all state rule, while opponents might be concerned about removing a baseline protection that currently applies uniformly statewide.

As of now, the bill has been referred to the House Municipal Government & Housing Committee, which has recommended holding it for further study. This means the bill has not advanced and lawmakers are still evaluating it before deciding whether to move it forward.