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Amendment narrows alcoholic‑beverage canvassing bill but Senate rejects SB 82
Summary
Senate debate over SB 82 focused on whether permitting representatives from wineries and distilleries to contact restaurants is too broad; an amendment inserting "written or verbal" communications passed but the bill failed on final passage (10–18–1).
Senate Bill 82, which would have modified prohibitions on canvassing or soliciting orders for alcoholic beverages to allow industry representatives to share information with restaurants, failed after floor consideration.
Senator Steiner framed the proposal as a limited remedy for an area of law that had become unclear and argued the bill only allows information distribution, not sample distribution. After the Liquor Control Commission's written objection was read into the record by Senator Steele — "The Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission opposes the passage of senate bill 82" — Steiner offered an amendment to clarify the bill's scope by inserting the words "written or verbal" after the term "share." "I would like to insert written or verbal so that the the amendment would read, licensees of the department share written or verbal information concerning alcoholic beverages," Steiner said. The body approved that amendment by voice vote.
Debate continued over regulatory scope and whether the change would improperly expand access by sales representatives. Senators expressed concerns about the bill's vagueness and potential unintended consequences. On final passage the Senate recorded 10 ayes, 18 nays and 1 absent; the motion to pass SB 82 failed and the bill was filed.
Because the floor adopted a narrowing amendment and still rejected the bill, proponents may return with revised language or leave the matter for further study. The committee report and the Liquor Control Commission's letter are part of the floor record.
