Governor Larry Hogan has decided to allow House Bill 1283 to become law without his signature. The Governor announced this news in a statement that notes the harm this bill will do to Maryland craft brewers…and urges the legislature to reform Maryland’s beer laws in the 2018 session. His full statement is available via this link.
Excerpt from Governor Hogan’s Statement
“House Bill 1283 contains several troubling provisions, which will more than likely prove detrimental to Maryland’s craft brewing industry – hampering the economic growth, job creation and tax revenue it produces.
This legislation punishes new entrants into the market through shorter tap room hours, requires an onerous buy-back provision for breweries seeking to sell more than 2,000 barrels, and places limits on contract brewing, which hurts an integral piece of many brewers’ business models.
It is clear from the debate surrounding this bill that Maryland’s beer laws – dating back to the end of Prohibition – are in need of reform as they threaten to reverse the incredible growth of our state’s craft brewing industry. Indeed, Virginia has already seized upon HB 1283 and the unfriendly perception it created to lure not only start-up breweries, but to pursue Maryland’s existing breweries.”
