Senate Bill 279
Service of alcohol beverages on retail licensed premises by underage persons
Stopped in committee
It never got a , so it never came up for a vote. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
May 15, 2023
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Committee, stopped here
Stopped here. No public hearing was held.
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Senate vote, not reached
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Assembly vote, not reached
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 15, 2024: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
It never got a hearing in the Senate Committee on Insurance and Small Business. See every bill that never got a hearing this session.
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Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
This bill extends, under certain circumstances, the current law exception allowing a person under 21 years of age (underage person) to serve alcohol beverages on retail licensed premises.
Under current law, with specific exceptions, no person may sell alcohol beverages to a consumer unless the seller possesses a license or permit authorizing the sale. A Class “B" license authorizes the retail sale of fermented malt beverages (beer) for consumption on or off the premises. A “Class B" license generally authorizes the retail sale of intoxicating liquor, which includes wine and distilled spirits, for consumption on the licensed premises and, subject to restrictions, off the licensed premises. Class “B” and “Class B” licenses are often issued together for restaurants or taverns. A “Class C" license, which may be issued only for a restaurant, authorizes the retail sale of wine for consumption on the premises.
Read the full summary Show less
Current law generally prohibits an underage person who is not accompanied by a parent, guardian, or spouse of legal drinking age from possessing or consuming alcohol beverages on retail licensed premises. However, an underage person who is at least 18 years of age and employed by a retail licensee may possess alcohol beverages in the course of employment, subject to the requirements below.
Current law imposes certain requirements relating to persons who are authorized to sell or serve alcohol beverages on retail licensed premises. Although a person is not required to hold an operator's license (commonly referred to as a “bartender's license") to provide alcohol beverages on retail licensed premises, a retail licensee may not be open for business unless the licensee, the designated agent of a corporate licensee, or a person who possesses an operator's license or manager's license is present and responsible for the acts of all persons providing alcohol beverages on the premises. A person must be at least 21 years of age to hold a retail license or manager's license or to be an agent of a corporate retail licensee. A person must be at least 18 years of age to hold an operator's license. Any other person who serves alcohol beverages on retail licensed premises must be at least 18 years of age and under the immediate supervision of the the retail licensee or its corporate agent or a person holding an operator's license or manager's license.
This bill allows an underage person who is not yet 18 years of age but who is at least 14 years of age to carry alcohol beverages, on Class “B,” “ Class B,” and “Class C” licensed premises, from a person allowed to serve alcohol beverages under current law to a customer, except a customer seated at the bar, and serve the customer.
The bill also rectifies a statutory inconsistency by clarifying that a retail licensee's immediate family member who is at least 18 years of age is considered to hold an operator's license.
Under current law, the Department of Workforce Development sets minimum ages for hazardous employment for minors. This bill provides that, in fixing those minimum ages, DWD must permit the employment of a minor 14 years of age or over at a business to carry and serve alcohol beverages to customers as described above.
Who's behind it
2 senators are its . All 2 are Republicans.
7 more lawmakers .
See all 9 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- Romaine Quinn · Republican, Senate
- Rob Stafsholt · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (7)
- Ty Bodden · Republican, Assembly
- Chanz Green · Republican, Assembly
- Joel Kitchens · Republican, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Gae Magnafici · Republican, Assembly
- Nik Rettinger · Republican, Assembly
- Angie Sapik · Republican, Assembly
What happened
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Apr 15, 2024
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Jul 19, 2023
1 more senator signed on in support.
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May 15, 2023
Sent to the Senate Committee on Insurance and Small Business.
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May 15, 2023
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- May 15, 2023 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Stafsholt and Quinn; cosponsored by Representatives Green, Bodden, Kitchens, Magnafici, Rettinger and Sapik
- May 15, 2023 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Insurance and Small Business
- Jul 19, 2023 · Senate
Senator Knodl added as a coauthor
- Apr 15, 2024 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor