Legislative Victories

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Last updated: July 13, 2015

2014

Maryland

House Bill 4 - Signed into law by Governor
Summary: Expands Alcohol With Out Liquid (AWOL) machine definition to include a Vaportini or any similar device, so as to prohibit device from being used to inhale or otherwise introduce alcohol in any form into the human body.
Sponsor(s): Delegate Charles Barkley (D-Montgomery)

2013

California

Senate Bill 635 - Failed to leave Assembly by 5/31/13
Summary: Local authority to allow on-sale operation between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m
Sponsor(s): MarkLeno (D-San Francisco)

2012

No legislative victories.

2011

TAXES

Connecticut

Senate Bill 1239 Signed into law 5/4/2011. Effective July 1, 2011.
Summary: Raises wholesale tax rates on alcoholic beverages 20% including beer from $0.19 to $0.23 per gallon, wine from $0.60 to $0.72 per gallon, and liquor from $4.50 to $5.40 per gallon.
Sponsor(s): Senator Donald Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) and Representative Christopher Donovan (D-Meriden)

Maryland

Senate Bill 994
Summary: Increased the sales tax rate on alcoholic beverages from 6% to 9%. Allocated a portion of the funds to the Developmental Disabilities Administration.
Sponsor(s): Senators Verna Jones-Rodwell (D-Baltimore), Richard Madaleno (D-Montgomery), Ulysses Currie (D-Prince George’s)*
Approved by the Governor on May 19,2011. Effective date: July 1, 2011.

DEREGULATION

Virginia

Bills left in committee without further action when legislative session ended:

Senate Bill 1272
Summary: Privatizes the wholesale and retail sale of alcoholic beverages.
Sponsor(s): Senators Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg) and John Watkins (R-Richmond)

Senate Bill 1417
Summary: Privatizes the retail sale of alcoholic beverages. The state will continue to conduct wholesale activities.
Sponsor(s): Senators Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg) and John Watkins (R-Richmond)

House Bill 2182
Summary: Replaces the Alcoholic Beverage Control board with the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. The bill provides a new leadership and hiring structure that is separate from those generally controlling state agencies.
Sponsor(s): State Delegate David Albo (R-Fairfax)

House Bill 2456
Summary: Privatizes the retail sale of alcoholic beverages. The state will continue to conduct wholesale activities.
Sponsor(s): State Delegate Robert Brink (D-Arlington)

2010

Deregulation

Virginia

Senate Bill 443 and House Bill 342
Summary: Would have privatized the retail sale of alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption.
Sponsor(s): SB 443 – Senator Mark Obesheain (R-Harrisonburg)*
SB 342 Delegate – Robert Marshal (R-Prince William)
Bills left in committee. Senator Obenshain withdrew proposal until after review by governor.

Washington

Initiative Measure No. 1100 - DEFEATED
Summary: This measure would have closed state liquor stores; authorized sale, distribution, and importation of “spirits” by private parties; and repealed certain requirements that govern the business operations of beer and wine distributors and producers.

Initiative Measure No. 1105 - DEFEATED
Summary: The measure would have directed the liquor control board to close all state liquor stores and to license qualified private parties as spirits (hard liquor) retailers or distributors. It would have required licensees to pay the state a percentage of their first five years of gross spirits sales; repealed certain taxes on retail spirits sales; directed the board to recommend to the legislature a tax to be paid by spirits distributors; and revised other laws concerning spirits.

Taxes

Washington Senate Bill 6143
Summary: Temporarily raises the tax on beer by $0.50 per gallon, effective through June 2013. Microbreweries are exempt from the increase.
Governor signed April 23, 2010.

2009

Taxes

Illinois Senate Bill 349 and Illinois House Bill 255
Summary: The enactment of both bills increases the tax on manufacturers and importing distributors beginning September 1, 2009. Increases: wine from $0.73 per gallon to $1.39 per gallon; spirits from $4.50 per gallon to $8.55 per gallon; and beer from $0.185 per gallon to $0.231 per gallon.
Sponsor (s): Senators John M. Sullivan (D-Rushville); Donne E. Trotter (D-Chicago); Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago)
Signed by Governor on 7/13/2009. Effective September 1,2009.

Kentucky House Bill 144
Summary: Lifts exemption and imposes 6% sales tax upon alcoholic beverages from April 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010.
Sponsor (s): Representatives Greg Stumbo (D-Prestonberg); David Watkins (D-Henderson); Rocky Adkins (D-Sandy Hook)
Signed by Governor on 2/13/09.

Massachusetts 2010 Budget
Summary: Ends the tax-exempt status of alcoholic beverages, now subject to the state's new 6.25% sales tax.
Effective July 1, 2009.

New Jersey Senate Bill 2013 and Assembly Bill 4104
Summary: Increases the tax rate on alcoholic beverages, including liquor from $4.40 per gallon to $5.50 per gallon, and wine from $0.70 per gallon to $0.875 per gallon. The funds raised by the tax increases will go to the Health Care Subsidy Fund.
Sponsor(s): Senator Lorreta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) and Assemblymember John S. Wisniewski (D-Middlesex)
Signed by Governor on 6/29/09.

New York Governor’s 2009-2010
Summary: Beer excise tax increased from $0.11 to $0.14 per gallon; Wine excise tax increased from $0.1893 to $0.30 per gallon. Passed and Governor signed on April 7, 2009.
Effective date: May 1, 2009.

North Carolina Budget
Summary: Beer tax increased from $0.53 cents to $0.617 per gallon, while wine increased from $0.21 to $0.264 cents per liter. The state-controlled spirits tax rate increased from 25 to 30 percent.

Oregon Surcharge on Distilled Spirits
Summary: The Oregon Liquor Control Commission imposed a temporary 50-cent surcharge per bottle on distilled spirits products and a 25-cent surcharge on minis, effective April 1, 2009 through June 30, 2011. The increase is intended to offset the compensation cuts to liquor agents as part of the 2007-2009 budget rebalance. Depending on sales, the surcharge is expected to generate at least $27 million through the next two years. Additional revenue generated from the surcharge is expected to benefit the state’s general fund.

Alcopops

Montana Senate Bill 438
Summary: Regulates sale of alcoholic energy drinks. Specifically defines a “caffeinated or stimulant-enhanced malt beverage.” The term is then included as being a type of liquor, and excluded from a type of “beer.”
Sponsor (s): Senators Carol Juneau (D-Browning), Sharon Stewart-Peregoy (D-Crow Agency), and Representative Shannon Augare (D-Browning)
Passed both Senate and House (3/16/09). Signed by Governor 3/25/2009. Effective date October 1, 2009.

Virginia House Bill 2597
Summary: Mandates the ABC Board to adopt regulations requiring that off-premises retail licensees place premixed alcoholic energy drinks in the same location as where wine and beer are available for sale within a licensed premises.
Sponsor(s): Delegate G. Glenn Oder (R-Newport News), Senator Harry B. Blevins (R- Chesapeake)
Passed House and Senate 2/18/2009. Signed by Governor 2/25/2009. Effective July 2009.