Bill would make it easier to provide full catering services at funeral luncheons, dinners

The following is a quote from Chuck Moran, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association (PaTaverns), regarding today’s Pennsylvania Senate Law & Justice Committee vote on HB 467. HB 467 addresses an issue within the hospitality industry related to off-premise catering permits and funeral luncheons and dinners. This bill is part of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association’s 2025-26 legislative agenda to address outdated liquor codes that handcuff small business bars, taverns, and licensed restaurants.

Today, the Pennsylvania Senate Law & Justice Committee moved HB 467 with no member voting against the bill. Sponsored by Rep. Dan Deasy, this bill would ease notification requirements bars, taverns, and licensed restaurants with an off-premise catering permit (OPCP) must file in order to provide full catering services to grieving families hosting funeral luncheons and dinners.

Current liquor code requires off-premise catering permit holders to provide both law enforcement and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board with advanced notice when using the permit at an off-site location. The PLCB requires 14 days’ notice, while local police and liquor control enforcement must be given 7 days’ notice.

This has been historically problematic when it comes to funeral luncheons and dinners as it’s not unusual for an individual to pass away and have a funeral all in the same week.

HB 467 would change the liquor code by providing an exemption for end-of-life off-premise catered events by allowing a 24-hour notice to the PLCB and local police.

This part of the liquor code currently makes little sense, and needs to be updated. Pennsylvania has not made it easy for grieving families wishing to hire full catering services through a licensed establishment. This simple change will help grieving families while improving the business climate for small business bars, taverns, and licensed restaurants.

The Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association’s Board of Directors has been lobbying for this change since last fall, when Board Member Michelle Ritter, owner of Willow Street Pub in Coplay and the holder of an OPCP, described the problem to Rep. Deasy during a meeting. Ritter described the unfortunate situation when trying to help grieving families based upon her personal experience.

Since then, Senate L&J Chair Dan Laughlin has championed the issue in the Senate, issuing a co-sponsorship memo on the issue.

The Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association thanks Senator Laughlin for his interest in this issue. Our Association also thanks Democrat Chair Wayne Fontana as well as all members of the committee.

The Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association encourages the Pennsylvania State Senate to take up this issue in a timely manner.

 

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The Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association is the statewide political voice for small business taverns and licensed restaurants. Based in Harrisburg, the Association formed after Prohibition in 1941, reorganized in 2019, and today advocates for best practices and rights within the industry as well as best experiences for patrons. To learn more, visit www.pataverns.com or follow the Association on Twitter via @TavernPA.