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Subcommittee deletes bottle increase, advances bill to extend distillery tasting hours
Summary
The subcommittee amended S.355 to remove a proposed increase in bottle sales, then reported the bill to the full judiciary committee; supporters said parity with breweries will help small distilleries while opponents raised public-safety considerations.
The subcommittee considered S.355, a bill to allow microdistilleries additional tasting hours and modestly expand retail sales. Sponsor Senator Bennett said the bill seeks parity with breweries and could boost employment and tourism. "We saw these same arguments on the brewery side, and they did not come to pass," he said.
Scott Blackwell, president of the South County Craft Distillers Guild, described about 31 state distilleries and said tasting rooms attract out-of-town visitors. Stakeholders agreed to remove a proposed increase in the number of bottles that distilleries could sell, and Senator Tatter explained an amendment deleting section 2. The subcommittee adopted the amendment by voice vote, then moved S.355 as amended to the full judiciary committee.
The transcript records voice votes; no roll-call tally appears. Members said they remain mindful of DUI concerns and pointed to separate, broader DUI-law enhancements moving through the legislature.
Next steps: S.355 will be considered by the full judiciary committee.
