Proposed Changes to Special Beverage Licenses for Restaurants

Original title: Issuance of Special Beverage Licenses

March 13, 2026

alcoholic beverages business licensing restaurants hospitality industry state regulation alcoholic beverages and tobacco

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Finance Connection

Notable money activity

$20,000across 20 reported contributions

Trace money trail →

Candidate	Donor	Amount	Industry	Date
Tom Leek	IMPACT	$1,000	POLITICAL COMMITTEE	Dec 2025
Tom Leek	FLORIDIAN'S FOR POSITIVE CHANGE	$1,000	POLITICAL COMMITTEE	Dec 2025
Tom Leek	FLORIDA INSURANCE COUNCIL (FIC) POLITICAL COMMITTEE	$1,000	POLITICAL COMMITTEE	Nov 2025
Tom Leek	FLORIDA INDEPENDENT CONCRETE & ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS INC.	$1,000	POLITICAL COMMITTEE	Nov 2025
Tom Leek	ELI LILLY AND COMPANY & SUBSIDIARIES	$1,000	PHARMACEUTICALS	Nov 2025
Tom Leek	FIGHTING FOR FLORIDA'S FUTURE PC	$1,000	POLITICAL COMMITTEE	Dec 2025
Tom Leek	CHIRO-PAC PC	$1,000	POLITICAL COMMITTEE	Dec 2025
Tom Leek	FAIAPAC	$1,000	POLITICAL COMMITTEE	Dec 2025
Tom Leek	FLORIDA CONCRETE & PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL COMMITTEE	$1,000	POLITICAL COMMITTEE	Oct 2025
Tom Leek	MOLINA HEALTHCARE INC.	$1,000	HEALTH CARE	Mar 2025
Tom Leek	CONSERVATIVES FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT	$1,000	POLITICAL COMMITTEE	Aug 2025
Tom Leek	ARROW GROUP	$1,000	GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS	Feb 2025
Tom Leek	FCCI SERVICES INC.	$1,000	INSURANCE	Nov 2025
Tom Leek	CITIZENS FOR PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP PC	$1,000	POLITICAL COMMITTEE	Dec 2025
Tom Leek	FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF MORTGAGE PROFESSIONALS PAC	$1,000	POLITICAL COMMITTEE	Feb 2025
Tom Leek	CHIRO-PAC II PC	$1,000	POLITICAL COMMITTEE	Dec 2025
Tom Leek	ACE AMERICAN INSURANCE CO.	$1,000	INSURANCE	Nov 2025
Tom Leek	HOLLAND & KNIGHT FLORIDA POLITICAL COMMITTEE	$1,000	POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE	Mar 2025
Tom Leek	JOBS FOR RURAL FLORIDA	$1,000	POLITICAL COMMITTEE	Mar 2025
Tom Leek	UNITI GROUP INC. FEDERAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE	$1,000	POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE	Dec 2025

Reported financial relationships and timing signals. This does not prove motive or influence. Readers draw their own conclusions.

The Frame

What this does

The bill would have required restaurants to meet higher physical capacity and service area standards to maintain or obtain special liquor licenses, directly impacting the operational requirements for food service businesses in Florida.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Food service establishments

Must meet increased square footage and seating capacity requirements to qualify for special beverage licenses.

Caterers

Subject to new licensing rules, record-keeping requirements, and fee structures for selling alcohol at events.

Culinary education programs

Granted specific provisions for alcohol service and catering operations under the proposed license.

What changed

Last recorded activity March 13, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

This bill proposed increasing the minimum size and capacity requirements for restaurants to qualify for special alcoholic beverage licenses. It also established new audit schedules for revenue compliance and created specific licensing rules for caterers and culinary education programs.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if a restaurant fails to meet the required food revenue percentage?

Failure to meet the required percentage of food and nonalcoholic beverage gross revenues results in the revocation of the license or denial of a pending application.

Can caterers store alcoholic beverages for future events?

No, the bill prohibits caterers from storing any alcoholic beverages to be sold or served at a catered event.

Are culinary education programs required to meet the 51 percent food revenue rule?

No, a culinary education program that provides catering services is exempt from the requirement to derive at least 51 percent of its gross revenue from the sale of food and nonalcoholic beverages.