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Committee approves bill to let small breweries operate three taproom locations; aligns permit rules
Summary
Senate Bill 365 would let small breweries without restaurants operate up to three taproom locations, matching the allowance currently available to breweries that also operate restaurants; the City, County & Local Affairs Committee passed the bill.
Sen. Joshua Bryant (District 32) introduced Senate Bill 365 to clarify permitting for small breweries and taprooms. Bryant said current state statute allows a brewery that serves food to operate three taproom locations, while a small brewery that does not serve food is limited to two. He said the difference has created confusion and a cost barrier for entrepreneurs who do not want to build a restaurant to gain an additional taproom location.
"So what this bill would do is just make those match Small brewery, taproom to 3 matches the, brewery restaurant that has 3," Bryant said, telling the committee he had spoken with the Alcoholic Beverage Control agency (ABC), which was present to answer questions, and that ABC thought the language clean-up would reduce confusion.
Committee members asked clarifying questions about marketability and industry pressures; one member observed that the craft-brewery industry faces economic pressure and that allowing a third location could help marketability. Sen. Bryant closed debate for his bill; the committee moved, seconded and passed SB365 by voice vote. The transcript records no roll-call tally and no on-record opposition testimony. The bill’s statutory text and any licensing conditions were not read in full during the hearing.
