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Free The Grapes Update

 Free The Grapes Update

Free the Grapes! Wine Lover Update

April 2020 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Even with the Coronavirus pandemic dominating news and state legislatures, there is still news to report on wine direct shipping.
HOT NEWS ITEM: Kentucky Becomes 46th Legal State for Winery Direct Shipping
You may have seen on Facebook that Kentucky’s new law to allow for the direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipment of wine, beer and spirits by producers became law on April 7, 2020.
The effective date of the law will be mid-July. You may be asking, "when can I buy my favorite wines directly from the winery?" Please be patient as the state authorities promulgate rules, producers apply for and receive their permits and update their systems to allow for compliant direct shipments.
Once again, thanks to all of our friends in Kentucky who supported legal, regulated direct wine shipments over the years by writing your state legislators! Once the state has promulgated its rules, and wineries can apply for licenses, we will update our map.
OTHER LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Alaska: To provide more precise winery DTC regulations, the wine industry-supported bill passed the Senate in February and the House Committee on Labor and Commerce on March 18. Now it needs to pass the House Committee on Finance to get out of the House.
Delaware: We are awaiting vote on Senate Bill 49, the industry’s model bill, which carried over from 2019.
Illinois: Senate Bill 3830 is the National Association of Wine Retailers bill to allow retailer DTC and would replace the current 12-case limit by wineries with an unlimited quantity for both wineries and retailers. The legislature is not in session and passage seems unlikely.
Indiana: The wine industry-supported bill to remove the wholesaler exclusion, Senate Bill 11, died as the state legislature adjourned for the year.(The current law prohibits DTC shipments from wineries who have an existing relationship with an Indiana wholesaler.)
Maryland:  Senate Bill 1068 died in committee upon adjournment and would have allowed shipments from "fulfillment houses," which provide picking, packing and shipping services for wineries.
Minnesota: The local grape council has introduced a bottle bill to include DTC shippers, with license fees supporting the state’s winery promotions. 
Mississippi: Senate Bill 2534, a favorable permit bill, passed successfully out of the Senate but was amended to include retailers, resulting in a defeat on the floor, 13-32, on March 13.
New Jersey: The two favorable bills we supported in the 2018-19 session, which would replace the 250,000 gallon capacity cap, still exist. It is not clear if legislators will consider non virus-related bills in the upcoming (2-year) session.
Oklahoma:  House Bill 3162, a bill promoted by in-state wholesalers, would require common carriers to report the quantity of wine delivered to each consignee, which their technology cannot manage. The bill has passed the House and is being considered in the Senate.
Rhode Island: House bill 7585, the wine industry’s model direct shipping bill, is in the House Committee on Finance. 
Utah:  House Bill 157 passed the House and Senate and is with the Governor for signature. Unfortunately it is not workable in its current form. It would require consumers to sign-up with the state for a subscription wine club, with shipments sent through the state, delivered to a local retail store for pickup by the consumer. (Similar laws in other states have not allowed for winery DTC.)
Thanks and stay safe!
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