HELENA — A proposal to cut required training time in half for clerks who sell alcoholic beverages for off‑premise consumption drew a brief hearing before the House Business and Labor Committee on Jan. 31.

Sponsor Rep. Kelly Kortum, R-Billings, said House Bill 157 would reduce the training burden on convenience-store and grocery clerks who sell packaged beer and wine for customers to take away. ‘‘Employers have experienced an alarming rate of employee turnover,’’ Kortum told the committee, and shortened, focused training on ID checking would be a ‘‘practical solution’’ to reduce employer costs.

No proponents appeared in the room; the bill attracted no on‑record opponents. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Division’s outreach and education coordinator, Dacia English, appeared as an informational witness and noted a technical fiscal concern in the fiscal analysis: it was unclear whether a combined curriculum could be split and how licenses that permit both on‑ and off‑premise sales would be handled administratively.

Committee members asked whether the proposal would require a delayed effective date (a technical amendment that Kortum said she would accept) and requested clarification about how the division would administer split curricula for mixed licenses.

The Montana Tavern Association registered as informational and said it does not take a position because the bill concerns off‑premise sales (by retailers), not on‑premise licensees the tavern association represents.

The hearing ended without committee action. Kortum asked the panel to return a technical amendment implementing a delayed effective date and clarifying curriculum administration if the committee moves the bill forward.

Why it matters: The bill targets a narrow regulatory requirement — the duration of training for off‑premise clerks — arguing it addresses employer training costs tied to high turnover. Regulators signaled the need for minor technical drafting refinements before the committee acts.

Next steps: Sponsor agreed to accept an amendment to delay the effective date to allow implementation work by the ABV control division.