Texas SB 1230 liquor fee reform (2021)
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB 1230, cutting alcohol license fees for bars and restaurants by about half. The measure was meant to help hospitality businesses recover from COVID-19 shutdowns and to simplify TABC licensing.
License fees fell, reducing the cost of entry for new operators.
Applications for new Texas alcohol licenses rose in the following years, and more small operators entered the market.
SB 1230 made it cheaper for entities like Creative Management Team LLC to pursue a liquor license, helping explain a wave of new venue filings in Texas cities.
