A bill in the state Senate to allow some bars and clubs to continue serving alcohol until 4 a.m. died in committee. Sponsored by Sen. Mark Leno, the bill would have let local jurisdictions make decisions about extending closing times for specific venues from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. based on local needs and community support.
The bill, SB 645, drew criticism from antidrinking groups such as San Rafael’s Alcohol Justice and some advocates of low-income neighborhoods, among others. In the end, it failed to muster enough votes in the Senate Committee on Governmental Organization, which killed it in a 6-4 vote.
