News from FREE THE GRAPES
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:51 pm
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Wine direct shipping is a hot legislative issue even though the number of states that continue to prohibit winery shipments has dropped to 13. In fact, of the top 10 largest wine consumption states, discussions have been active in the three remaining states where direct shipments are not occurring: New Jersey (#5), Massachusetts (#7) and Pennsylvania (#10).
New Jersey Senate Passes Favorable Bill
Senate Bill 766, based on the model direct shipping bill, passed the Senate 29-5 on March 11. The companion bill, Assembly Bill 1702, should be heard in committee in early April. Wine lovers are encouraged to continue personalizing letters to legislators. Click here to write today! http://capwiz.com/freegrapes/issues/ale ... d=12725801
Massachusetts Considering HB 317
Industry representatives continue to work with legislators on House Bill 317 (Torrisi) that allows for winery shipments and removes the carrier fleet licensing issue in the existing statute. The bill passed the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure on February 9 and is currently in the House Committee on Ways & Means Committee. As background, a 2006 Massachusetts statute banning winery-to-consumer shipments from wineries producing more than 30,000 gallons per year, and who retain Massachusetts wholesalers, was ruled unconstitutional January 14 by the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Pennsylvania Discussions Continue
Industry representatives continue to work with regulators and legislators to amend tax provisions that would add as much as 25% to the retail price of wine purchased directly from wineries.
Maryland Bills Stall
Despite widespread consumer, media and legislator support for the model direct shipping bills – House Bill 716 and Senate Bill 566 – the Senate opted to authorize the Comptroller to submit a written study on direct shipping by November 1, 2010. The bills were co-sponsored by a majority of the members in both the House and Senate and many Senators voiced frustration that the bill did not get to the floor. Over the last several years, the state has gotten ever closer to passing legislation. ACTION: Wine lovers should continue to send letters in support of direct shipping since the situation is still somewhat in flux. Click here. http://capwiz.com/freegrapes/issues/ale ... d=12660121
Iowa Transitions to Permit
Governor Culver signed Senate Bill 2088 on March 10 which will transition Iowa from a reciprocal shipping state to a permit state effective July 1, 2010. The statute allows wineries to purchase a $25 annual permit and make unlimited direct-to-consumer shipments, and brings Iowa into compliance with the Supreme Court’s 2005 Granholm v. Heald ruling by allowing all in-state and out-of-state wineries to ship to consumers in Iowa.
Mississippi: Flawed Bills Fail
Several bills purporting to allow “direct shipping” did not make it out of their committees in February.
New Hampshire Fix-it Bill Passes House
House Bill 1352 (Hunt) passed the House on February 17. The bill would increase the shipping limit from 60 bottles per consumer to 12 cases “per label” per consumer per year, among other provisions. The bill now moves to the Senate.
Rhode Island Bills Considered
Two favorable model bills were introduced in January, House Bill 7197 (Ucci, who also authored HB6011 in 2009) and Senate Bill 2029.
OTHER NEWS
Upgraded Website at FreetheGrapes.org
By putting the U.S. map on our homepage, you can now get a quick update on pending legislation and activity in your state. Wine lovers like you send at least 10,000 letters each year to state representatives in favor of wine direct shipping, which provides additional support for industry representatives and legislators seeking to improve state statutes. Take a look at the site and let us know what you think by emailing us at shackles@freethegrapes.org or posting a comment on our Facebook page. www.facebook.com/FreetheGrapes
Wine direct shipping is a hot legislative issue even though the number of states that continue to prohibit winery shipments has dropped to 13. In fact, of the top 10 largest wine consumption states, discussions have been active in the three remaining states where direct shipments are not occurring: New Jersey (#5), Massachusetts (#7) and Pennsylvania (#10).
New Jersey Senate Passes Favorable Bill
Senate Bill 766, based on the model direct shipping bill, passed the Senate 29-5 on March 11. The companion bill, Assembly Bill 1702, should be heard in committee in early April. Wine lovers are encouraged to continue personalizing letters to legislators. Click here to write today! http://capwiz.com/freegrapes/issues/ale ... d=12725801
Massachusetts Considering HB 317
Industry representatives continue to work with legislators on House Bill 317 (Torrisi) that allows for winery shipments and removes the carrier fleet licensing issue in the existing statute. The bill passed the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure on February 9 and is currently in the House Committee on Ways & Means Committee. As background, a 2006 Massachusetts statute banning winery-to-consumer shipments from wineries producing more than 30,000 gallons per year, and who retain Massachusetts wholesalers, was ruled unconstitutional January 14 by the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Pennsylvania Discussions Continue
Industry representatives continue to work with regulators and legislators to amend tax provisions that would add as much as 25% to the retail price of wine purchased directly from wineries.
Maryland Bills Stall
Despite widespread consumer, media and legislator support for the model direct shipping bills – House Bill 716 and Senate Bill 566 – the Senate opted to authorize the Comptroller to submit a written study on direct shipping by November 1, 2010. The bills were co-sponsored by a majority of the members in both the House and Senate and many Senators voiced frustration that the bill did not get to the floor. Over the last several years, the state has gotten ever closer to passing legislation. ACTION: Wine lovers should continue to send letters in support of direct shipping since the situation is still somewhat in flux. Click here. http://capwiz.com/freegrapes/issues/ale ... d=12660121
Iowa Transitions to Permit
Governor Culver signed Senate Bill 2088 on March 10 which will transition Iowa from a reciprocal shipping state to a permit state effective July 1, 2010. The statute allows wineries to purchase a $25 annual permit and make unlimited direct-to-consumer shipments, and brings Iowa into compliance with the Supreme Court’s 2005 Granholm v. Heald ruling by allowing all in-state and out-of-state wineries to ship to consumers in Iowa.
Mississippi: Flawed Bills Fail
Several bills purporting to allow “direct shipping” did not make it out of their committees in February.
New Hampshire Fix-it Bill Passes House
House Bill 1352 (Hunt) passed the House on February 17. The bill would increase the shipping limit from 60 bottles per consumer to 12 cases “per label” per consumer per year, among other provisions. The bill now moves to the Senate.
Rhode Island Bills Considered
Two favorable model bills were introduced in January, House Bill 7197 (Ucci, who also authored HB6011 in 2009) and Senate Bill 2029.
OTHER NEWS
Upgraded Website at FreetheGrapes.org
By putting the U.S. map on our homepage, you can now get a quick update on pending legislation and activity in your state. Wine lovers like you send at least 10,000 letters each year to state representatives in favor of wine direct shipping, which provides additional support for industry representatives and legislators seeking to improve state statutes. Take a look at the site and let us know what you think by emailing us at shackles@freethegrapes.org or posting a comment on our Facebook page. www.facebook.com/FreetheGrapes