A bill to change the population threshold for cities wanting to serve alcohol in a municipal arena or event center has gained support from the South Dakota House of Representatives. House Bill 1210 would allow any municipality to issue on-sale alcoholic beverage licenses to a city operated auditorium or convention hall. The bill’s main House sponsor, Republican Representative Dick Werner of Huron says the current bill only allows such a license for cities will populations over 35-thousand residents…
Werner told the Chamber that the ownership group closed the Verto’s restaurant and bar and relinquished the alcohol licensees back to the state, a common practice for the group…
The only other comments from the House came from Werner’s District 22 companion, Democratic Representative Peggy Gibson of Huron…
The bill gained approval on a 53 to two vote and needed 47 yea votes to pass. Fifteen members of the House were excused for an Appropriations Committee hearing. HB 1210 now goes to the Senate where Werner is hopeful it may receive a Committee hearing before the end of the week. The bill could go to the Full Senate next week and pending approval, the Govenor’s desk by the end of next week.