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Committee clears amended distillers bill after changes to proof‑gallon thresholds
Summary
Lawmakers approved amendments to House Bill 1466 that adjust proof‑gallon thresholds and add a proof‑gallon definition; sponsors said the changes reflected industry agreement while some senators called the package a temporary fix requiring further work for craft producers.
The Senate Industry and Business Committee approved amendments and gave a due‑pass recommendation to an amended version of House Bill 1466, which updates statutory measures pertaining to distillers and related alcohol regulation.
Committee members walked through a set of verbal amendments that clarified measurement units and adjusted production thresholds — for example, changes to language on proof gallons and caps (references in committee discussion moved wording from “more than 25,000 gallon” to “40,000 proof gallons or less” in the amendment draft). Senator Kessel and others noted the changes were intended to align definitions across statute.
Senator Klein cautioned the amendments are a “band aid” for a complex set of craft‑industry rules and urged industry stakeholders — distillers, brewers and wineries — to pursue a comprehensive, unified rewrite to avoid repeated fixes. “This is gonna be a problematic thing. This is a band aid to fix something that needs to be addressed,” Klein said.
Committee members said stakeholders — including distillers, wholesalers and trade groups — appeared to be in agreement on the amended language. The committee adopted the amendment on a 5‑0 vote and then voted 5‑0 to give the amended bill a due‑pass recommendation; senators Kessel and Klein were active in the discussion and Senator Kessel agreed to carry the bill.
Members recorded no further amendments in committee testimony; stakeholders were encouraged to continue cross‑industry talks about broader reforms.
