We've been doing a little research and we have identified three pieces of legislation that will change the beer and wine laws for the better in Maryland. They include:

H.B. 148 -- Authorizes the Board of License Commissioners of Somerset County to issue a specified alcoholic beverages license to a chain grocery store.

Sponsor: Del. Elmore (R-Dist. 38A)

Status: No action; assigned to the House Economic Matters Committee

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H.B. 259 -- Requires the Board of License Commissioners of Frederick County to approve four weekends annually for the special beer festival in Frederick County, provides that the Board may allow the special beer festival to be held on the premises of the holder of a stadium on-sale license.

Sponsor: Frederick County Delegation

Status: No action; assigned to the House Economic Matters Committee

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S. 280/H.B. 517 -- Allows a person who purchases at a licensed premises a meal and a bottle of wine, the contents of which are partially consumed with the meal, to remove the bottle and its contents from the licensed premises under specified circumstances, states that a bottle of wine under the Act is an ""open container"" for purposes of a specified provision of law concerning possession of alcohol in a motor vehicle.

Sponsors: Senators Ida G. Ruben (D-Dist. 20), Forehand, Hollinger, Jacobs, Kramer, Lawlah, Stone, and Teitelbaum

Status: Hearing 2/17, 1pm; Senate Education Health and Environmental Affairs Committee

If you would like to contact your elected representatives on these matters, go to the Maryland Election Districts website and enter your address. You will be told whom your legislators are, along with their contact information.