Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 2593 amends the Alcoholic Beverage Code to allow the holder of a winery permit to buy wine from a permit holder who is authorized to purchase and sell wine in Texas. The bill also authorizes a winery to sell wine to ultimate consumers for consumption on the winery premises or in unbroken packages for off-premises consumption in an amount that does not exceed 35,000 gallons annually, rather than 25,000 gallons annually as provided under previous law. The bill authorizes the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to issue a winery permit in an area in which such sale has not been authorized by a local option election. A permit holder in such an area may sell or dispense wine only if the wine is manufactured in Texas and is at least 75 percent by volume fermented juice of grapes or other fruit grown in this state. The bill repeals provisions that placed other restrictions on the sale of wine in a dry area and that authorized only licensed wineries in certain cities and counties to sell wine or dispense free wine to ultimate consumers for consumption on or off the winery premises. 

            This bill takes effect contingent on voter approval of a constitutional amendment proposed by House Joint Resolution 85.