The Brewers Association of Maryland applauds the introduction of three industry-led initiatives to improve the laws for the state’s brewers.
“We are singularly focused on our legislation, based on our members’ priorities, and supported by nearly half of the General Assembly,” said BAM’s Executive Director, Kevin Atticks. “We are grateful for the support of the six lead sponsors and the many legislators who have signed on as co-sponsors.”
The three initiatives are designed to level the playing field for Maryland’s brewers by proposing generational changes that will help our brewers plan for future growth. The three initiatives boast a total of 112 sponsors.
- HB1080/ SB0704– Franchise Reform. Updates 1974 law by creating new definition of “small brewer” and applying a new set of rules to allow small brewers to operate under contract law when working with a distributor, rather than the current state-mandated lifetime agreement. Lead sponsors: Sen. Brian Feldman (Montgomery Co.) and Del. Carol Krimm (Frederick Co.)
- HB1010/ SB0801– Brewery Modernization Act of 2019. Sponsored by over 70 legislators, this raises sales and production caps, kills the buy-back provision, doubles M7 production, reverts M5 hours to pre-2017, creates off-site production option, and more. Lead sponsors: Sen. Antonio Hayes (Baltimore) & Del. Atterbeary (Howard Co.)
- House Sponsors: Atterbeary, Brooks, Anderton, Boteler, Bridges, Buckel, Carr, Cassilly, Chang, Charles, Corderman, Cullison, W. Fisher, Ghrist, Gilchrist, Grammer, Hornberger, Ivey, Jackson, Kelly, Kerr, Krimm, J. Lewis, Lierman, Lisanti, Lopez, Luedtke, Moon, Mosby, Palakovich Carr, Pippy, Queen, Reilly, Reznik, Saab, Shetty, Shoemaker, Smith, Solomon, Stewart, Szeliga, Valderrama, Washington, Wilkins, K. Young, and P. Young
- Senate Sponsors: Hayes, Carter, Feldman, Guzzone, Hershey, Hester, Hough, Jennings, Klausmeier, Lam, McCray, Nathan-Pulliam, Reilly, Salling, Smith, Washington, West, Young, and Zucker
- HB0480/ SB0508– Brewery Promotion Fund. Creates competitive grant fund in Dept. Commerce with excise tax paid on Maryland beer. Grants to be used for promotion, education and research of MD beer-related proposal. Lead sponsors: Sen. Addie Eckardt (Mid-Eastern Shore) & Del. Eric Luedtke (Montgomery Co.)
“BAM members have spent the last nine months hosting visits with legislators to give them a true picture of the industry’s benefits to their community and to the state,” said BAM President, Cindy Mullikin of Mully’s Brewery in Prince Frederick.
Five of the bills will be heard this Friday, February 22 at 1pm in the House Economic Matters Committee and the Senate Education, Health & Environmental Affairs Committee. SB508 will be heard March 1 in Finance Committee.
For further information, contact Kevin Atticks @ 410-252-9463.
