Liquor license bill stalls in Senate committee

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A bill to reform Idaho's liquor license laws has stalled in the Senate.

The Idaho Statesman reports that the Senate State Affairs Committee on Monday voted to hold onto the bill rather than send it to the full Senate.

The committee wants the bill's sponsor, Republican Jim Rice of Caldwell, to work with various interested partied on a compromise bill.

The state currently issues all liquor licenses based on the number of residents in a given area.

But the demand for the licenses is creating a market where the licenses are bought and sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Rice's proposal would end state-issued licenses and have cities or counties issue the licenses, if they choose.

Several bar owners who oppose the bill say it would reduce the value of their liquor license.

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Information from: Idaho Statesman, http://www.idahostatesman.com

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