The Pennsylvania Senate has passed a bill that would remove punitive COVID-19-related citations issued by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) against small businesses holding liquor licenses. The legislation, introduced by Sen. Jarrett Coleman (R-16), addresses actions taken by the PLCB during the pandemic.
During a 2024 state budget hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee, then-PLCB Chairman Tim Holden and Board Member Randy Vulakovich acknowledged that the board had used the license renewal process to ensure license holders faced “consequences” for not following COVID-related executive orders. These enforcement measures included issuing conditional licenses, which led to higher insurance costs, and requiring some businesses to sell their liquor licenses, potentially forcing them out of operation.
In response, Sen. Coleman proposed Senate Bill 241 to clear these COVID-related violations from the records of retail liquor license holders overseen by the PLCB.
“Pennsylvania businesses suffered enough during COVID and continuing to punish them today or in the future isn’t in anyone’s best interest,” Coleman said. “Every other commonwealth agency has recognized the impossible situation restaurants were in and they’ve dropped enforcement actions for COVID rule violations. It’s beyond time that the PLCB follows suit and lets these small businesses focus on making a living.”
The bill will now move to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
