Wine‑transfer bill prompts strong opposition from wholesalers and unions; amendment adopted and bill laid over

Senate File 1759, the "wine‑transfer" bill offered by Sen. Paul Rasmussen, returned to the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee on March 13 with an author’s A‑1 amendment and drew sustained opposition from wholesalers, independent retailers and the Teamsters union.

Sen. Rasmussen described the A‑1 as restoring language passed in the Senate last session. He said the bill would allow a limited transfer of wine between retail locations of common ownership under several restrictions intended to limit market disruption: at most one transfer per three‑month period per location, a cap of 75 cases per transfer, three business days’ notice to the regulator and the wholesaler, no transfers for retailers on a wholesaler credit list, and the change would apply to wine only.

Supporters framed the…