Alabama Senate Bill SB287

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/10/26
• Refer: 2/10/26
• Report Pass: 2/18/26
• Engrossed: 3/18/26
• Refer: 3/19/26
• Report Pass: 3/31/26
• Enrolled: 4/9/26
• Passed: 4/15/26

Caption

Alcoholic beverage importers; to recognize that an importer licensee may import alcoholic beverages from any jurisdiction outside of the State of Alabama

Summary

SB287 revises several provisions of Alabama’s Alcoholic Beverage Control laws. The bill primarily expands and clarifies the authority of importer licensees by stating that a licensed importer may bring alcoholic beverages manufactured anywhere outside Alabama into the state, rather than limiting the language to beverages manufactured outside the United States. It also changes the importer license year so that licenses run from October 1 through September 30, instead of the prior January-based cycle, and makes conforming and technical updates to the state’s alcohol code definitions and terminology. The bill also amends a recently enacted hemp retail licensing provision. It allows a person already permitted as a specialty retailer of electronic nicotine delivery systems to obtain a consumable hemp product retailer license. It further sets operational rules for hemp product sales, including age-restricted access for most hemp retailers, dedicated entrances, minimum floor space, employee presence, and separate display requirements for hemp beverages in grocery-type retail food stores. The act is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026.

Impact

SB287 updates Title 28 of the Code of Alabama by revising importer licensing rules, the definition of importer, and related ABC Board administration provisions. It broadens the statutory language governing alcohol imports, adjusts the annual licensing period for importers, and preserves the ABC Board’s authority over labeling, reporting, inspection, and contraband enforcement. It also amends Section 28-12-45 to expand who may qualify for a consumable hemp product retailer license and to regulate where and how hemp products may be sold, especially in pharmacies and retail food stores.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been generally well received and noncontroversial. It passed the Senate unanimously on third reading, and later received strong support in the House with substantial majorities on the amendment and final passage votes. The voting history suggests broad bipartisan agreement on the need to modernize importer rules and clarify hemp retail licensing.

Contention

There is little evidence of major opposition in the available record, but the bill’s main policy issues are the scope of alcohol import authority and the regulation of consumable hemp sales. Potential points of concern include the expansion of importer access to products from any jurisdiction outside Alabama, the shift in the importer license year, and the decision to allow specialty electronic nicotine delivery system retailers to also obtain hemp retailer licenses. The hemp provisions also impose operational restrictions that may matter to pharmacies, grocery stores, and other retailers, though no recorded debate or dissent is available here.