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Committee delays consideration of bill to allow wine-club shipments to homes after requests for more notice
Summary
Senator Bart Hester presented a bill (identified in committee as 14 76) to allow wine-of-the-month club shipments to consumers' homes; members agreed to postpone further action to allow small wineries and other stakeholders additional notice and opportunity to testify.
Senator Bart Hester introduced a bill (referred to in committee as 14 76) intended to make shipping from wineries to consumers consistent for participants in wine clubs or subscription shipments. Hester said the bill is consumer-choice driven and would allow memberships or subscriptions to receive wine by mail, subject to existing ID and signature requirements for alcohol deliveries.
Committee members raised concerns that small Arkansas wineries had not had adequate notice to appear and testify; Senator Davis noted the bill had been placed on the committee agenda on April 1 and that some small wineries reported they were not notified in time to attend. Senator Davis also said she was disappointed the bill did not address dry counties. The sponsor agreed to give affected small wineries an opportunity to appear and suggested he would re-run the bill at the committee's next meeting to allow more notice and participation.
The committee did not vote to pass the bill at this meeting; senators agreed to delay further consideration (the sponsor indicated intent to present the bill again at the committee's next meeting) so stakeholders could be given additional notice.
