SB523

Senate Bill 523 amends Arkansas law to permit restaurants and bars holding valid alcoholic beverage permits to expand their outdoor dining areas with local zoning approval, rather than requiring prior approval from the state's Alcoholic Beverage Control Division. Establishments must still provide notice to the division regarding the expansion and the resulting change in their floor plan. If an expansion increases seating capacity in a manner that would necessitate a change in the establishment's permit type, the business is still required to obtain prior state approval. Additionally, businesses that expand outdoor dining must remain in compliance with all division rules governing such areas. The bill also provides specific legal definitions for 'bar' and 'restaurant' to clarify to which establishments these provisions apply.