Florida Beverage Legislation: 2019 Post-Session Review of Beverage Bills
Zero out of 9. All 2019 Florida beverage bills fell flat.
Nine beverage-focused bills were introduced at the start of the 2019 Florida legislative session. All nine died in committee (or didn’t even get that far). Despite the possibility of some sweeping changes, especially for Florida breweries and distilleries, the Florida Beverage Laws will remain unchanged this year.
For a recap of what might have been, and to count the casualties, see the following chart.
Bill # | Sponsor | Similar Bills | Summary | Status |
SB 220 | Brandes | HB 907 | · Eliminates container size restrictions for wine and cider · Eliminates “full course” requirement for taking home unconsumed wine · Expands definition of “craft distillery” to 250,000 gallons per year · Allows craft distilleries to sell up to 75,000 gallons in gift shop without per customer restriction | Last Action: 5/3/2019 S Died in Innovation, Industry, and Technology |
SB 672 | Rader | HB 853 | · Florida Beverage Container Deposit Act · Requires dealers and consumers to pay a deposit fee for specific beverage containers, including alcoholic beverage cans, glasses, and kegs · Authorizes deposit refunds to be paid by the vendor or redemption centers that are registered with the Florida Department of Revenue | Last Action: 5/3/2019 S Died in Environment and Natural Resources |
SB 894 | Stargel | HB 6037 | · Repeals Florida Statutes Section 564.05, relating to the limitations of the size of individual wine containers | Last Action: 5/3/2019 S Died in Innovation, Industry, and Technology |
SB 1304 | Mayfield | HB 903 | · Authorizes a brewery to transfer to its licensed facility certain malt beverages that are brewed by another manufacturer · Authorizes a brewery to terminate a contract with a distributor under certain circumstances. · Revises requirements relating to distributors’ warehouse inventory and sales · Provides an exception to the come-to-rest requirement for certain deliveries made by specified manufacturers · Deletes a prohibition on manufacturers with a vendor’s license making certain deliveries, etc. | Last Action: 5/3/2019 S Died in Innovation, Industry, and Technology |
HB 853 | Stark | SB 672 | · Florida Beverage Container Deposit Act · Requires dealers and consumers to pay a deposit fee for specific beverage containers, including alcoholic beverage cans, glasses, and kegs · Authorizes deposit refunds to be paid by the vendor or redemption centers that are registered with the Florida Department of Revenue | Last Action: 5/3/2019 House – Died in Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee |
HB 903 | Toledo | SB 1304 | · Authorizes a brewery to transfer to its licensed facility certain malt beverages that are brewed by another manufacturer · Authorizes a brewery to terminate a contract with a distributor under certain circumstances. · Revises requirements relating to distributors’ warehouse inventory and sales · Provides an exception to the come-to-rest requirement for certain deliveries made by specified manufacturers · Deletes a prohibition on manufacturers with a vendor’s license making certain deliveries, etc. | Last Action: 5/3/2019 House – Died in Commerce Committee |
HB 1219 | Sabatini | | · Authorizes licensed vendor of alcoholic beverages to allow dogs in certain designated areas on their licensed premises · Authorizes malt beverages to be packaged in 2 liter containers · Repeals provisions relating to limitations on size of individual wine containers · Eliminates container size restrictions for wine and cider · Eliminates “full course” requirement for taking home unconsumed wine · Expands definition of “craft distillery” to 250,000 gallons per year · Allows craft distilleries to sell up to 75,000 gallons in gift shop without per customer restriction | Last Action: 5/3/2019 Senate – Died in Innovation, Industry, and Technology |
HB 1229 | Raschein | | · Authorizes a craft distillery to hold multiple vendor’s licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages · Permits craft distilleries to conduct tastings and sell distilled spirits at fairs, trade shows, and festivals · Authorizes certain craft distilleries to transfer distilled spirits to its vendor’s licensed premises, to be licensed as distributor, to conduct spirituous beverage tastings at specified licensed premises | Last Action: 5/3/2019 House – Died on Calendar |
HB 6037 | Stark | SB 894 | · Repeals Florida Statutes Section 564.05, relating to the limitations of the size of individual wine containers | Last Action: 5/3/2019 Senate – Died in Innovation, Industry, and Technology |
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