SB 408 — AN ACT CONCERNING LIQUOR PERMITS, FIRE SAFETY AND PREVENTION INSPECTIONS, THE REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION AND JUICE BARS.

2478 9 of 10 Raised Bill No.

408 Control Commission, which may suspend such permittee's permit on the basis of the conviction.

ThissSB408 act/ shallFile takeNo. effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

306 9 sSB408 File No.

306 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

4 October 1, 2026 30-22c Statement of Purpose:Legislative Commissioners:

To(1)deleteaprovisionregardingcertaininspectionsnotbeingdeemedIn Sections 2(b) and 2(d), "sworn member" was changed to constitute"member" afor preconditionaccuracy, in Section 3(b), "and any municipality may" was changed to renewal"and ofany municipality with a liquorpopulation permit,of (2)less modifythan certaintwenty requirementsthousand relatingmay"for toclarityandinSection4,"The fireholderofacafepermit,at safetyalltimes andwhen preventiona inspections,portion (3)of requirethe certainpermit nonresidentpremises owners,is project-basedbeing housingoperated providersas ora agentsjuice bar, shall limit the number of patrons in chargethe toportion registerof certainthe information,permit andpremises (4)being establishoperated variousas requirementsa relatingjuice bar to juiceno bars.more than ten per cent of the total building occupant load established by the Fire Marshal under the Fire Safety Code." was moved from Subsec.

[Proposed(c)(2) deletionsto areSubsec. enclosed in brackets.

Proposed(b) additionsfor areclarity. indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] LCO No.

2478PS 10Joint ofFavorable 10Subst.

sSB408 / File No.

306 10 sSB408 File No.

306 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $ Resources of the General Fund GF - Potential See Below See Below Revenue Gain Note:

GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:

Municipalities Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $ Various Municipalities Potential Minimal Minimal Revenue Gain Various Municipalities Potential See Below See Below Savings Explanation The bill makes various changes to laws governing juice bars and landlord reporting to municipalities that results a potential savings and potential revenue gain to municipalities described below.

Section 1 requires liquor permit applicants to certify that their inspection has occurred or will occur within the calendar year resulting in no fiscal impact to the state.

Section 2 results in potential savings to various municipalities by generally reducing the frequency of required building inspections by local fire marshals from annually to biennially.

The level of savings depends on whether fewer costs are incurred as a result of the reduced number of inspections.

Section 3 (1) requires municipalities with a population of 25,000 or sSB408 / File No.

306 11 sSB408 File No.

306 more to require certain residential property owners and landlords to report information to the municipality, and (2) establishes that failure to do so will result in a fine between $250 and $1,000.

This results in a potential revenue gain to municipalities beginning in FY 27.

Section 4 requires café permittees to limit the number of patrons at all times and establishes that violations of this provision are subject to a fine.

This results in a potential revenue gain to the state beginning in FY to the extent fines are imposed.

The bill makes other various changes which do not result in a fiscal impact to the state or municipalities.

The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation and the number of fines.

1According to the CT Department of Health population estimates, in 2024 there were municipalities in Connecticut with a population of 25,000 or more.

sSB408 / File No.

306 12 sSB408 File No.

306 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 408 AN ACT CONCERNING LIQUOR PERMITS, FIRE SAFETY AND PREVENTION INSPECTIONS, THE REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION AND JUICE BARS.

SUMMARY This bill makes changes to laws governing juice bars, residential property owner and landlord reporting to municipalities, fire marshal inspections, and liquor permitting.

Generally, it:

1.

allows towns and municipalities, by ordinance, to prohibit the (a) operation of juice bars within their borders or (b) sale of alcohol on any cafe permit premises while a juice bar is operating (§ 4);

2.

authorizes towns, by ordinance, to set the hours during which a juice bar may operate so long as it does not permit one to do so after 10 p.m.

(§ 4);

3.

imposes new restrictions on juice bars and requirements on their associated cafe permittees, including requiring convictions for violating the juice bar law to be reported to the Liquor Control Commission for possible permit suspension (§ 4);

4.

requires municipalities with a population of at least 20,000 to require certain residential property owners and landlords to report specified information to the municipality, such as their current residential address (§ 3);

5.

reduces the frequency of required building inspections by local fire marshals, generally from annually to biennially (§ 2);

and 6.

requires liquor permit renewal applicants to certify on their applications that a local or deputy fire marshal, fire inspector, or sSB408 / File No.

306 13 sSB408 File No.

306 othermunicipalfirecodeinspectororfireinvestigatorhasorwill, within the calendar year, inspect all the applicant’s premises operating under his or her permit that allows for on-premises consumption of alcohol (§ 1).

The bill also makes technical and conforming changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

October 1, 2026 § 4 — JUICE BAR RESTRICTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS The bill makes several changes to the law regulating “juice bars,” which are places where nonalcoholic beverages are served to minors (under age 21) on the premises of a cafe permit holder.

Generally, existing law:

1.

allows a cafe to operate a juice bar in a room or separate area where alcohol is not sold, consumed, dispensed, or present;

2.

requires cafe permittees, between five and 30 days before a scheduled event, to send the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality where the cafe is located written notice by certified mail or email of when the cafe premises will have a juice bar during that event;

3.

allows the chief local law enforcement officer to designate one or more officers to attend the scheduled event;

and 4.

prohibits cafe permit holders, and their agents and employees, who operate juice bars on the premises from serving alcohol to a customer without a conspicuous wristband issued by the permittee showing they haveverifiedthatthecustomer isoflegal drinking age (at least age 21).

The bill requires cafe permittees, at all times when a part of the premises is being operated as a juice bar, to limit the number of patrons where the juice bar is being operated to no more than 10% of the total building occupant load established by the fire marshal under the Fire Safety Code.

It also allows, at any time before or during a scheduled sSB408 / File No.

306 14 sSB408 File No.

306 event, the chief law enforcement officer, or the officer’s designee, to reject the event or order it to be terminated if either, in their sole discretion, determines that (1) there is insufficient police capacity to properly and safely monitor the event or enforce the law or (2) the event may, or has, become a danger to public safety.

Under existing law and the bill, violators of the above provisions are subject to a fine, up to one year imprisonment, or both.

The maximum fines are (1) $2,500 for a first offense;

(2) $5,000 for a second offense;

and (3) $10,000 for a third or subsequent offense.

The bill requires cafe permittees who are convicted of violating the state’s juice bar law to immediately report their convictions to the Liquor Control Commission, which may suspend their permit based on the conviction.

§ 3 — MUNICIPAL LANDLORD IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS The bill requires municipalities with a population of at least 20,000 based on the most recent decennial census (“covered municipalities”) to require certain residential property owners and landlords to report specified information to the municipality.

Existing law allows, but does not require, all municipalities to do so.

Specifically, it allows them to require nonresident property owners and landlords renting to federal Housing Choice Voucher program participants (also known as “project- based housing providers”or PBHPs) to reportcertaininformationto the tax assessor or another designated municipal officer.

This information must include the following:

1.

the owner’s or PBHP’s current residential address, if they are an individual, or 2.

the current residential address of (a) the agent in charge of the building and (b) each person who exercises day-to-day financial or operational control of the property (“controlling participants”), if the owner or PBHP is a business entity that owns rental property in Connecticut (i.e.

a corporation, partnership, trust, or other legally recognized entity).

sSB408 / File No.

306 15 sSB408 File No.

306 For business entities, this report must also include “identifying information” for the controlling participants.

The bill expands this reporting requirement to also include (1) other identifying information for the nonresident owner, PBHP, or agent in charge of the building and (2) at least two telephone numbers that are accessible on a 24-hour basis for emergency response purposes.

Under the bill, covered municipalities must require nonresident property owners and PBHPs to report the information described above, as modified, to them.

Definitions The bill adds definitions for both “identifying information” and “nonresident owner,” which are undefined under current law.

Under thebill, “identifying information” isproofofaperson’sname, birthdate, current residential address, driver’s license number, or other government-issued identification number.

A “nonresident owner” is a person or business entity that does not live at the rental property and is either(1)an“owner”(oneormorepeoplewithlegaltitletotheproperty or beneficial ownership and a right to present use and enjoyment of the premises, including mortgagees in possession) or (2) the “controlling participant” of the entity that owns the property (see above).

The billalso makes aminor change tothe“agent incharge” definition by specifying that their management duties include property supervision and maintenance to comply with state law and local codes.

FOIA Exemption Under current law, reports submitted to a tax assessor on or after October 1, 2023, are exempt from disclosure under the state’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The bill makes these reports exempt regardless of when they were submitted.

Violations of Reporting Requirement Under the bill, a person who violates the reporting requirement discussed above commits a violation and is subject to a fine of between sSB408 / File No.

306 16 sSB408 File No.

306 $250 and $1,000, rather than an infraction as under current law.

(Infractions are punishable by fines, usually set by Superior Court judges, of between $35 and $90, plus a $20 or $35 surcharge and an additional fee based on the fine’s amount.

An infraction is not a crime, and violators can pay the fine by mail without making a court appearance.) Existing law also allows municipalities to adopt an ordinance setting a civil penalty for violations of the reporting requirement.

The penalty cannot exceed $500 for a first violation and $1,000 for subsequent violations.

Anyone who is assessed a civil penalty may appeal to Superior Court (CGS § 47a-6b).

§ 2 — LOCAL FIRE MARSHAL INSPECTIONS Existing law authorizes local fire marshals and the state fire marshal to inspect all buildings, facilities, processes, equipment, systems, and other areas regulated by the Fire Safety Code and the State Fire Prevention Code within their respective jurisdictions in the interests of public safety and to satisfy themselves that all relevant laws are complied with.

By law, each local fire marshal must regularly inspect, or cause to be inspected, all (1) public service buildings and facilities and (2) occupancies regulated by the fire codes other than single-family and duplex residential buildings.

Current law requires them to do so at least once a year or at longer intervals prescribed by the state fire marshal in adopted amendments to the fire codes where the interests of public safety can be met by less frequent inspections.

The bill:

1.

specifies that local fire marshals can have local fire department members or qualified third parties conduct these inspections;

2.

changes the frequency of the basic requirement from once every year to once every two years;

and 3.

modifies what the state fire marshal can prescribe by allowing her to adopt amendments to the fire codes that set a schedule of sSB408 / File No.

306 17 sSB408 File No.

306 inspections that are less frequent than once every two years, including for residential buildings designed to be occupied by three or more families, which current law does not allow.

Separate but related, the bill specifically allows local fire marshals to have local fire department members or qualified third parties inspect buildings and facilities within their jurisdictions for which they have received information from an authentic source that the building or facility is hazardous to life safety from fire.

BACKGROUND Related Bills sHB 5161 (File 105), § 1, reported favorably by the Housing Committee, has similar provisions to § 3.

SB 274 (File 153), § 1, reported favorably by the Planning and Development Committee, has similar provisions to § 3.

COMMITTEE ACTION Public Safety and Security Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 19 Nay 10 (03/17/2026) sSB408 / File No.

306 18