Governor Proposes Additional Funding for the State Liquor Authority

Governor Kathy Hochul unveiled her Executive Budget this month and included $4.9 million in additional funding to support increased staffing levels and to improve the functionality of the SLA’s online licensing system. The increased funding will support 28 new positions in the agency’s Licensing, Wholesale, and Legal Bureaus.

The additional licensing staff will assist the Authority in reviewing the growing number of license and permit applications being filed and improve licensing operations and customer service to businesses applying for licenses. The new funding will also support the SLA’s legal and compliance activities related to agency litigation and disciplinary cases, as well oversight of wholesalers/manufacturers. This should result in operational efficiencies and improvements that will benefit businesses across the State.

The budget did not include any proposals to modernize the laws governing the sale of alcohol beverages. We were not expecting the Governor to include our proposal allowing restaurants and taverns to make limited purchases of wine & spirits from liquor stores. While the Governor’s office reiterated their support for our proposal this fall, the SLA is still looking at certain technical changes that may be needed. Nor were we surprised that the Governor passed on adding Wine in Groceries to her budget proposal. However, given Governor Hochul’s interest in the hospitality industry, it’s unusual she doesn’t have a key initiative benefiting our businesses.