It's time for the 2015 Open the Taps update:
quote:
The 2015 Session is finally underway.
Committees have been chosen and now it's time to get to work filing bills.
A quick note on the Committee selections -
(For information on the Committee members, see our website - here.)
On the Senate side, Eltife's no-surprise Business and Commerce Committee Chair appointment is a good thing for us. Last session, he was the Sponsor for bills SB515-518. We have also had positive discussions with his staff about the session and consumer issues.
On the House side, Chair of Licensing and Regulations Wayne Smith was
recently honored at Saint Arnold for his help last session. He is also
amenable to another round of beer legislation.
You should also recognize some of those names, they are YOUR Senators and Representatives!
We have compiled the survey results (more on that shortly) and spoken to
countless industry stakeholders to gather important feedback on the
issues that matter most. Our lobbyists have this information in hand and
are working with the Senate and House committee members to get bills
drafted.
The progress so far on our main issues:
Festivals - We are very excited to be working with Representative Goldman of Fort Worth on this issue. He has been exceptionally helpful in
preliminary discussions. We are currently working with legislative staff
on specific bill language (this is a complicated issue). As soon as we
have a bill number we will let you know!
Homebrewing - After conversations with TABC about the possibility of taking care of these issues (homebrew competitions, etc.)
in the code itself we learned this will have to happen in the
legislative arena. Representative Springer, a homebrewer himself, has been extremely helpful and supportive, we are
fired up to be working with him. As with the festivals issue, we are
waiting on official language to be drafted and a bill to be filed. Stay
tuned for more on this.
Shipping - We have a bill filed that we can support!! SB 719 sponsored by Senator Connie Burton of Fort Worth. This bill will allow direct shipment of beer to consumers, from both in
and out-of-state breweries. Her staff is currently working out some
issues with the language (this bill covers liquor as well as beer at
this point), so don't get too concerned about specifics in the bill just
yet. We are expecting a committee substitute bill in the coming weeks.
Off-premise sales - This issue is facing major hurdles and we are working closely with the Texas
Craft Brewers Guild, so while we don't have a bill filed yet, we are
still optimistic on this front.
Growler Sales at Mixed Beverage Licensed Establishments - Unfortunately, we have not found much of an appetite in the Texas
Legislature to change the rules governing retail establishments that
serve mixed beverages this year. We continue to talk to as many people
as possible in the Texas Capitol, but unless something changes in the
coming weeks, the timing does not seem right for this change.
Replacing TABC labeling requirements with TTB approval - Our lobbyists have had a conversation with the TABC and they have
emphasized their efforts to streamline the process and have been working
closely with Texas breweries to accomplish this.
As I've said before (numerous times) on this thread, this is an organization that every Texas poster on this board should get behind. They've already benefited you by changing the laws to allow to-go sales, so let's take this thing to the next level. Hell, I drink maybe 6 beers a year total and I am still supporting them. I want to see all of you drunks stand up and do what needs to be done. Kick the state legislature right in the dick!!!!!
Some nice boxes arrived today!
