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Committee approves bill to confirm local licensing for cereal malt beverages, amends technical language
Summary
The committee passed HB 2376 as amended to clarify that cereal malt beverage licensing remains with local city and county governments rather than being issued by the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC); members approved a technical reviser amendment before passing the bill on voice votes.
The committee voted to pass HB 2376, as amended, clarifying cereal malt beverage (CMB) licensure and affirming that local city and county governments will continue to issue licenses rather than the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).
Mike, committee staff, read a portion of testimony from the ABC director explaining the bill's purpose. He said the 2017 legislation authorized CMB retailers to sell beer containing up to 6% alcohol by volume; the law took effect in 2019 and, "as a result nearly 3,000 businesses such as gas stations, grocery stores, and taverns now sell this full strength beer," which ABC classifies as alcoholic liquor. Under the current framework, Mike said, ABC does not issue CMB licenses; those licenses are issued by local city and county governments. "What in fact this bill does is to fire a licensure by, the ABC and would, allow for the continued, licensure of, local governments," he said.
Committee members approved a technical reviser's amendment after staff noted one place on page 5 where the "Cereal Malt Beverage Act" was omitted from a list of referenced acts. Representative Smough moved the reviser's technical amendment; Representative Ward seconded. The amendment passed on a voice vote.
Representative Smough then closed on the motion to pass HB 2376 as amended; Representative James seconded. The chair called for a voice vote; members said "aye" and the motion passed. The transcript records no roll-call tally for the final passage.
As a procedural matter later in the meeting, the committee approved its minutes for 01/29, 02/04 and 02/05. Representative Reese moved approval of the minutes; Representative Miller seconded, and the minutes were accepted on a voice vote.
