Section 1.

Appropriates $309,568,563 from the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund (Fund) to the Department of Administration (DOA) for 2025-26 to be used for advanced planning and construction of a new automated warehouse and associated offices for the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABC). Upon the earlier of project completion or July 1, 2029, directs ABC to repay the total amount of funds appropriated from the Fund for the project in an amount of no less than $20.67 million annually, to be credited to the Fund. Directs that the act should not be deemed to preclude repayment of amounts more than the minimum prescribed annual amount. Effective July 1, 2025.

Section 2.

Establishes a service business permit as a new kind of ABC permit under GS 18B-1001, as follows. Authorizes a service business (an establishment that is primarily engaged in the business of providing services to the general public that require an occupational license issued by the State) to furnish complimentary malt beverages and unfortified wine to customers, in conjunction with the provision of the service, for consumption on the permittee's premises at no extra charge to the customers in the servings and amounts specified, subject to the conditions of GS 18B-603, described below. Authorizes purchase of permitted beverages from a wholesaler.

Specifies in GS 18B-603, that the ABC may only issue service business permits to qualified persons and establishments located within a jurisdiction in which on-premises malt beverage permits or on-premises unfortified wine permits may be issued, subject to the three following restrictions for a service business permit:

1. If on-premises malt beverage permits, but not on-premises unfortified wine permits, may be issued in the jurisdiction, the service business permittee may furnish only malt beverages to customers. 
2. If on-premises unfortified wine permits, but not on-premises malt beverage permits, may be issued in the jurisdiction, the service business permittee may furnish only unfortified wine to customers. 
3. If on-premises malt beverage permits and on-premises unfortified wine permits may be issued in the jurisdiction, the service business permittee may furnish malt beverages and unfortified wine to customers.

Provides for a $50 service business permit fee in GS 18B-902. Specifies in GS 18B-903 that a service business permit remains valid indefinitely unless it is surrendered, suspended, or revoked. Sets annual registration and inspection fee at $50 per permit. Requires service business permittees to submit a recycling plan along with the original permit application and any renewal. Makes technical and conforming changes to GS 18B-GS-903, GS 18B-300 (pertaining to purchase and consumption of malt beverages and unfortified wine), and GS 18B-1006.1 (additional requirement for certain permittees to recycle beverage containers).

Effective July 1, 2025.

Section 3.

Modifies the packaging requirements for a single serving of unfortified wine that is sold by vehicle delivery under either (1) an on-premises unfortified wine permit, (2) an on-premises fortified wine permit, and (3) a mixed beverages permit in GS 18B-1001 so that the packaging complies with GS 20-138.7 (transporting open container offenses) and is in an unopened manufacturer's original container or is transported in a locked container, in the trunk, or in the area behind the last upright seat in a motor vehicle not equipped with a trunk (currently statute specifies that notwithstanding GS 20-138.7, the only requirement is if container continues to be sealed and is in the passenger area of the vehicle). Makes conforming changes to GS 20-138.7.

Effective October 1, 2025, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date. 

Section 4.

Modifies the county alcoholic beverage elections under GS 18B-600 for mixed beverages so that in addition to the conditions specified, a county may hold such an election if a city in the county operates at least one ABC store. Specifies that if a county does not operate at least one ABC store, a mixed beverages permittee may purchase liquor from an ABC store that is designated as a mixed beverage ABC store operated by any local board operating in the same county as the permittee. Retroactively effective to October 1, 2024.

Section 5.

Makes technical correction to GS 18B-603(d)(4) (concerning brown bagging permits).

Section 6.

Corrects the statutory citation in GS 18B-300.3 so that it refers to GS 18B-1001 (listing kinds of ABC permits) instead of GS 18B-1000 (definitions concerning ABC retail establishments).

Section 7.

Authorizes an ABC permittee business that is not permitted to sell mixed beverages to allow a customer to possess and consume on the business's premises mixed beverages purchased from a mixed beverages permittee in the social district.