BILL ANALYSIS
By: Gonzales
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
In Texas, there are three types of permits for the retail-sale of alcohol: package store permits,
wine and beer retailers off-premises permits, and wine only package store permits. Currently, only package store permit owners are able to acquire a tasting permit to conduct product tasting of distilled spirits, wine, beer, and malt-based or spirit-based coolers.
C.S.H.B. 2590 would allow wine only package store permit owners to acquire a tasting permit to conduct tastings of the products that they are permitted to sell in the same way that holders of package store permit are currently allowed.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
C.S.H.B. 2590 amends the Alcoholic Beverage Code to allow wine only package stores to obtain a package store tasting permit and to conduct product tasting on the permitted premises. The substitute provides exceptions to relative sections to allow wine only package stores to conduct tastings.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Immediately, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2005.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
C.S.H.B. 2590 modifies the bill by adding exceptions to certain sections of the Alcoholic Beverage Code to allow wine only package stores to perform product tasting.