Senate advances bill to raise beer tax and create restricted DUI‑enforcement account

Senator Wadipes introduced S.B. 66 to increase Utah’s beer excise tax by a small per‑unit amount and to establish an Alcohol Beverage Enforcement and Treatment restricted account to restore and stabilize funding to local DUI enforcement and prevention programs. He noted that the original 1983 allocation had eroded and local jurisdictions were shortchanged, and he framed the proposal as restoring the original public‑safety purpose of the tax.

"The people who are hit by a drunk driver — these people are never compensated," the sponsor said, arguing the dedicated funds would provide steady local enforcement and treatment resources. Critics warned that dedicating new revenues to a restricted account does not guarantee future legislatures will not divert funds in budget stress; several senators urged additional safeguards, including a possible higher vote threshold for redirection of restricted funds.

The Senate debated whether the tax would prompt cross‑border purchases and whether beer drinkers would be unfairly targeted, but several senators supported the concept given the enforcement need. Senator Davis urged caution about creating new reliance on excise taxes and called for mechanisms to keep the revenue focused on treatment and enforcement.

Final action: The Senate voted to move S.B. 66 to the third‑reading calendar with a recorded vote of 19 yeas, 9 nays, 1 absent.

Next: Sponsors invited amendments to strengthen protections for the restricted account and signaled a willingness to coordinate with other legislators on a final structure before final passage.