Committee hears testimony on bills to raise retailer liquor discount and limit MLCC look-back; Liquor Control Commission opposes over $90 million revenue loss

The Michigan House Committee on Regulatory Reform heard testimony on House Bills 4113 and 4114, measures that would change how the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) sets retailer discounts and how far back the MLCC may consider prior violations when reviewing license status.

Representative Steckloff, the sponsor of HB 4113, told the committee the bills "amend the Michigan liquor control code to increase the amount that on premise licenses can deduct from the price of alcoholic liquor bought from the state and prohibit the MLCC from considering a qualified violation order within 2 years when making decisions regarding changing the status of a license." Steckloff said the change is intended to help small, neighborhood retailers compete with larger chains; she said the retailer discount would increase from 17 percent to 23 percent.

Jerry Griffin, vice president of government affairs for the Midwest Independent Retailers Association, testified in support of both bills and…