Legislation To Support Entertainment Venues In Economic Recovery Signed To California Law

The past several years have closed the doors of many shuttered venues, and California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law Senator Scott Wiener’s legislation supporting entertainment venues.

“When SB 793 becomes law, entertainment venues across California will have an easier time doing business here,” Senator Wiener said in a statement. “Our entertainment and live music scene is world-class, and it will only get better with this change. Thank you, Governor Newsom, for standing with our entertainment venues.”

Taking effect on Jan. 1, 2023, and will help reduce the current qualifications of California venues, which currently require them to adapt to the qualifications of restaurant licenses and install expensive kitchens. This will create a new type of liquor license specific for music entertainment venues, removing administrative time and costs that currently affect music venues hoping to obtain a license.

“Thank you to Senator Wiener and his staff for their hard work on this bill,” Casey Lowdermilk, President of NIVA California, said in a statement. “And thank you to Governor Newsom for his continued support of our industry. This is a commonsense reform creating a unique liquor license suited to the business operations of music venues and has been on the vision board of the industry for decades. The California Chapter of the National Independent Venue Association is proud to work alongside Senator Wiener, Governor Newsom and their colleagues in the State Legislature to encourage and promote nightlife in CA.”