When SB 1030, known as the “Arizona Beer Bill,” was passed overwhelmingly by the Arizona Senate this week, some people celebrated the new “law.”
Those people, obviously, got a D in high school civics class. The bill now goes to the Arizona House of Representatives, where it’s scheduled for a Commerce Committee hearing on Wednesday.
(Assuming it passes out of committee, it’ll go the full House for a final vote. If it’s approved, only then does it go to the governor for his signature.)
Even though the finish line is in sight, the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild is reminding supporters to keep the pressure on lawmakers, especially state reps on the Commerce or Rules committees.
Commerce members are Diego Espinoza, Charlene R. Fernandez, Jay Lawrence, Stefanie Mach, Jill Norgaard, Warren H. Petersen, Tony Rivero, and Thomas “T.J.” Shope.
Rules members are David M. Gowan Sr., Albert Hale, David Livingston, Steve Montenegro, Bob Robson, David W. Stevens, Bob Thorpe, Ceci Velasquez, and Bruce Wheeler.
(Click on the rep’s name for a link to their email. If you’re not sure what district you’re in, find out here, then find your state reps here.)
If you just moved to Arizona and don’t know about SB 1030, the bill would raise the capacity limit on Arizona breweries from 40,000 barrels per brewhouse to 200,000 barrels total (regardless of number of brewhouses).
It also limits the number of retail locations a brewery can operate to seven, and makes needed adjustments to distribution and license rules.
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