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Committee lays over bill to let Colorado distiller tasting rooms pour small samples of outside products
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Summary
The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee voted to lay over SB25-132 to May 9 after sponsors said they lacked the votes to advance a modest licensing change that would let craft distillery tasting rooms offer small pours of beer or wine they do not produce.
At a meeting of the House Business Affairs & Labor Committee, members voted to lay over SB25-132 to May 9 after bill sponsors said they did not have the votes to advance a narrow licensing change intended to help Colorado craft distillers. Representative Tatum, the bill sponsor, presented the measure and described its aims.
"This bill that you have before you today is a bill to try to help our struggling Colorado craft distillers who are still deeply in an unfair position compared to other manufacturers of alcohol," Representative Tatum said. He said the bill would allow distillers "a single new license and a very modest opportunity to permit, at the state licensing agency to pour a very small amount of products they don't manufacture, like Colorado wineries and, and beer as well." He added that distillers rely heavily on tasting rooms to reach customers and that some producers face high startup costs and long aging periods before they can sell products.
Representative Soper, who spoke in support, said lawmakers should "stand up for our businesses and our business community," and described the change as a modest expansion to allow patrons who do not prefer distilled spirits to have a beer or glass of wine while accompanying friends who sample spirits. "This is nothing new. It's a, it's a concept that already exists in law," Soper said.
Sponsors acknowledged opposition concerns that the change would treat distilled spirits manufacturers differently because of local permitting processes. "Opponents would argue that only distilled spirits manufacturers should have to go through this novel process, local process for the tasting rooms and even for a simple permit," Tatum said.
At the sponsors' request, Vice Chair Woodrow moved to lay over SB25-132 to May 9; Representative Morrow seconded. The motion passed on a roll call vote with 11 yes votes and two members excused; the chair announced, "it passes 11." The committee did not take further action on the bill at the meeting.
The bill sponsors said they plan to return with the measure at a later date.
