House Bill 4573, sponsored by state Representative Scott Dianda (D-Calumet), was voted out of the Michigan House of Representatives today with an overwhelming majority. The bill changes the way the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) calculates the cost of a liquor license for first-year business owners.
“This is a piece of common-sense legislation aimed at helping out new business owners setting up shop in our state,” said Dianda. “As a former small-business owner myself, I am glad to be helping out local entrepreneurs.”
Currently, liquor license fees are due on April 1 of each year. If a new store owner were to apply for a liquor license and receive it in January, that business would owe LARA the full amount of the license fee at that time. Then, come April 1, they would owe the full amount again.
“I am proud this bill received overwhelming support from my colleagues, and I am happy to be sending it over to the Senate for its consideration,” Dianda said. “I am always open to ideas of how to help Michigan’s small-business owners and improve our economy, and I’m glad I was able to pass this legislation as a means of doing so.”