Gov. Wolf Signs 3 New Laws, Including Restaurant Drinking Changes

PENNSYLVANIA — Gov. Tom Wolf has signed into law three new pieces of legislation, including a bill that significantly expands the area in which a restaurant may serve liquor.

The new law, originally introduced as House Bill 425, now allows restaurants to serve alcohol in a seating area within a thousand feet of their main location. Previously, this was limited to 400 feet.

The bill was inspired by the restaurant industry's struggle to recover from the pandemic and related shifts in operations.

“Restaurants have been doing everything in their power to stay afloat as this pandemic persists,” State Rep. Dan Deasy (D-Allegheny), who sponsored the legislation. “This bill...(provides) much-needed assistance to these business owners by giving them flexibility in countering some of the obstacles they’ve struggled with for nearly two years.”

In addition to expanding the seating area authorized under a liquor license, the bill also allows the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to issue off-premise catering permits, and allows restaurants that close to sell their license to another establishment.

Here is the other legislation signed into law by the governor this week. Click on the bill's number to learn more.

House Bill 1452

This legislation gives the writers of the PA Bulletin, a quarterly publication of the state's rules and regulations, more flexibility in publishing emergency issues.

Senate Bill 880

The new law renames a road in Monroe County after a community icon, Samuel Newman.

"Sam Newman was very charitable and heavily involved with the Salvation Army along with many other organizations," shared the Nauman Companies, a local business that attended a ceremony renaming the road. "For many years, he was very involved with the Monroe County community. From the early days founding his law practice…to running Camelback, and then after retirement, volunteering his time for great organizations."

Specifically, the road designates a portion of State Route 2014/Washington Street, beginning at South Courtland Street and Day Street and ending at Brown Street.