A new California bill would allow bars and restaurants in designated hospitality zones to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. on certain days, beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
Under existing law, alcohol sales are prohibited statewide between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.
The proposed legislation, AB 342, would create a new “additional serving hours license” license that would allow on-sale licensees to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and designated state holidays.
Assemblymember Matt Haney (D – San Francisco) discussed the new bill during a press conference in downtown Los Angeles.
“We have to, as a state, help our cities come back fully and recover. We need people in our downtowns. We need them to come here, not just during the day, but at night,” Haney said during the press conference.
“We heard from city leaders and business leaders that they need more support from the state and more flexibility to reimagine what their downtowns offer, not only during nine to five but also on weekends and at night.”
Haney also noted that small businesses in the downtown area could benefit from this bill, should it be signed into law, as California gears up to welcome world-class events, like the World Cup and Olympics, over the next few years.
The bill is currently undergoing a committee review.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill last year extending last call until 4 a.m. but only for the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
