ATLANTA – State Representative Mandi Ballinger (R-Canton) recently introduced House Bill 273 to expand liquor licensing options in order to spur economic growth during the pandemic.
“Local economies thrive when residents have the freedom to welcome policies that best suit their actual communities, and I am introducing this legislation as a way to help boost Canton’s economy during this unprecedented time,” said Rep. Ballinger. “This legislation would not only benefit residents in my hometown, but it would also allow each of Georgia’s local authorities to decide for themselves whether they would like to allow liquor licenses in their towns and encourage economic recovery on the local level. I have spoken to many business owners and residents in Canton who are supportive of this measure, and I’m looking forward to getting even more grassroots support.”
House Bill 273 would create an additional method for the authorization of the issuance of licenses for the package sale of distilled spirits. Specifically, HB 273 would allow local authorities to initiate a referendum regarding liquor licensing within their city or county through a local ordinance or resolution. This referendum would be placed on a local ballot for residents to decide whether or not to allow liquor licenses within their municipality and/or county.
For more information on HB 273, please click here.
Representative Mandi L. Ballinger represents the citizens of District 23, which includes portions of Cherokee County. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2012 and currently serves as Chairman of the Juvenile Justice Committee and Vice Chairman of the Special Committee on Access to the Civil Justice System. She also serves as Secretary of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee and is a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and the Information and Audits, Judiciary Non-Civil, Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment, Rules and Transportation committees.
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