BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

S.B. 1375

 

By: Parker

 

State Affairs

 

5/26/2023

 

Enrolled

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Purpose: To allow distillers to participate in civic or distilled spirits festivals, farmers' markets, celebrations, or similar events in Texas.

 

Background

 

What the Bill Does

 

S.B. 1375 amends current law relating to the sampling or tasting of distilled spirits by the manufacturer to a consumer at a temporary event.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission in SECTION 2 (Section 14.09, Alcoholic Beverage Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 14.01(a), Alcoholic Beverage Code, as follows:

 

(a) Authorizes the holder of a distiller's and rectifier's permit to take certain actions, including dispensing free distilled spirits for consumption on the permitted premises under Section 14.04 (Distilled Spirits Sampling) or at a temporary event under Section 14.09.

 

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 14, Alcoholic Beverage Code, by adding Section 14.09, as follows:

 

Sec. 14.09. DISTILLED SPIRITS SAMPLING AT TEMPORARY EVENT. (a) Authorizes the holder of a distiller's and rectifier's permit to conduct distilled spirits samplings or tastings at a civic or distilled spirits festival, farmers' market, celebration, or similar event.

 

(b) Requires that the distilled spirits provided as a sample or at a tasting under Subsection (a) be manufactured by the holder of the distiller's and rectifier's permit.

 

(c) Prohibits sample portions served at a distilled spirits sampling or tasting under Subsection (a) from exceeding one-half ounce.

 

(d) Prohibits a person who receives a sample from removing the sample from the event premises.

 

(e) Authorizes distilled spirits to be legally transported by the holder of the distiller's and rectifier's permit or the permit holder's agent or employee to the temporary event for the purpose of providing a sample or a tasting under this section.

 

(f) Provides that the cost of the distilled spirits provided for a sampling or tasting under this section is the responsibility of the holder of the distiller's and rectifier's permit providing the sampling or tasting.

 

(g) Requires the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) to adopt rules to implement this section, including rules that:

 

(1) establish a procedure to verify the wet or dry status of the location where the permit holder intends to temporarily sample or taste distilled spirits under this section;

 

(2) detail the circumstances when a permit holder is authorized to temporarily sample distilled spirits under this section with just a notification to TABC and the circumstances that require TABC's preapproval before a permit holder is authorized to temporarily sample distilled spirits under this section; and

 

(3) require the permit holder to provide any other information TABC determines necessary.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2023.