The 2013 Montana Legislature got underway on Monday, January 7, and wasted little time in taking up the first significant legislation pertaining to beer. House Bill 58 would create a new license for brew-on-premises operations. The bill received its first hearing before the House Business and Labor Committee early Friday morning. The bill is sponsored…
Look out. The 63rd Session of the Montana Legislature convenes Monday, January 7, 2013. What it holds for the future of Montana is anyone’s guess. The Montana Legislature meets every other year and only for 90 days. While the short, biennial sessions helps maintain a “citizen legislature,” it also guarantees a whirlwind of frenzied action…
One of the interesting nuggets of info at the Montana Brewers Association’s 2012 Fall Conference came from Shauna Helfert, Administrator of the Liquor Control Division of the Montana Department of Revenue. The Department of Revenue is working on a bill to create a new license for brew-on-premises operations, a business category that is not currently…
In the “how do your beer laws stack up department” comes news from Arizona about a growler fill law which took effect in early August. You’ll recall the 2011 Montana legislature passed a bill clarifying that any establishment with an on-premise consumption license can fill growlers for off-premise consumption. It was considered a “clarification” because…
Continuing with our examination of Montana’s beer laws,* today we take a look at § 16-1-106, MCA, the definition of “beer.” Why? Because an important change to this definition took effect in October 2009** after the Legislature approved an increase in the legal percentage of alcohol. The legislation introduced to make that change was known…
As reported by the Montana Brewers Association, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer signed into law Senate Bill 203, marking a bit of good news for craft beer coming out of the 2011 Montana Legislature. Senate Bill 203 made it clear that non-brewery locations licensed to serve beer for on-premise consumption can fill growlers for patrons to…
Montana Senate Bill 203, allowing on-premise beer retailers to fill growlers for off premise consumption, sailed through the House of Representatives on an 86-12 vote last week and is now headed to the Governor. As with any bill, the Governor has four options. He can sign it, recommend amendments and send it back, veto it,…
Today marks the 46th day of the 2011 Montana legislative session and follows the four day “transmittal break.” Montana has one 90-day legislative session every other year and the transmittal deadline is an important benchmark. General bills must be passed by the house/senate and sent to the other chamber on or before the 45th day…
And the turf war rages on. The Montana Senate’s Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee held a hearing today on Senate Bill 202 which seeks to shift tap room hours from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The hearing lasted 1.5 hours with ten proponents and fifteen opponents squaring off. …
The Montana Senate’s Business, Labor and Economic Affairs committee will take up SB 202 at a hearing on Thursday, February 17, 2011, beginning at 9:00 a.m. SB 202 (Senate Bill 202) would shift (not increase) the hours of operation for a tap room at a small brewery from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. to 12:00…