Transcript Highlights:

• By way of background to House Bill 2128, there is currently a liquor license for sports entertainment
• Washington's legal framework on liquor regulates it as a three-tier system: manufacturing, distribution
• Liquor licenses in the manufacturing and distributing tiers are generally prohibited from having financial
• This is not an expansion of current liquor laws.
• These are two separate businesses, independently liquor-licensed producers.

Bills: HB2128, HB2207, HB1701, HB2536, HB2476, HB2294, HB2229

Keywords: alcohol service, sports facilities, amusement venues, recreational activities, patron engagement, alcohol warehousing, regulation, liquor distribution, storage standards, state laws, liquor licenses, multiple premises, alcohol distribution, commercial leasing, regulatory reform, winery, restaurant license, alcohol, spirits, beer

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held public hearings on several alcohol-licensing bills. House Bill 2128 would expand the sports entertainment facility liquor license to cover facilities where patrons engage in sports, amusement, or recreational activities. Supporters, including the prime sponsor and the Washington Hospitality Association, said it would help a controlled, fenced-in adventure park in Leavenworth serve alcohol throughout the park while preserving LCB oversight and safety controls. A remote testifier from the park could not be heard. Members asked about whether the bill expanded alcohol access and about violation rates; staff said a fiscal note had been requested but not yet received. House Bill 2207 would create a bonded beer warehouse license and align beer warehousing with existing wine warehousing rules. The prime sponsor said it would help a Ridgefield logistics warehouse store beer as it already stores wine and spirits, though she noted she was considering amendments to address direct-to-consumer shipping and federal compliance. Brewers supported the bill as a parity and small-business measure, while distributors and spirits/wine distributors opposed or raised concerns about direct-to-consumer shipping, public access, and the need for stronger guardrails. The warehouse owner testified that the facility is highly secured and that the bill would help breweries avoid unnecessary warehousing costs. House Bill 2536 would allow wineries to hold spirits, beer, and wine restaurant licenses at additional winery locations. The sponsor and Washington Wine Institute said the bill would reduce administrative burdens and let wineries operate more like breweries already can, without increasing alcohol access. DeLille Cellars testified that current law forces wineries to create separate entities and duplicate payroll, HR, accounting, and compliance systems for offsite tasting-room restaurants. House Bill 2476 would remove the 120-seat-per-screen limit for theaters seeking a spirits, beer, and wine theater license. Theater owners and hospitality groups supported the change, saying theaters already operate under alcohol control plans and that the cap limits attendance at popular events; the sponsor said the bill would not expand alcohol access, only remove an outdated seating restriction. The committee also heard House Bill 1701, which would allow multiple liquor licensees to operate separate premises within a shared facility and let LCB review leases or agreements. The sponsor said it would help a Chelan winery/brewery/restaurant complex operate under separate leases, and he said he was willing to remove the Public Records Act exemption again. Distributors supported transparency but opposed the PRA exemption and urged filing lease information with the LCB. In executive action, the committee adopted Amendment Claude 407 to House Bill 2229, which restores the current name of the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, and then reported Substitute House Bill 2229 out of committee with a due pass recommendation by an 8-6 vote, with one member excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> without a liquor permit. without a liquor permit.
• </c> liquor stores. liquor stores.
• </c> the other large liquor retailers. the other large liquor retailers.
• liquor license.
• liquor license.

Bills: HF4145, HF4009, HF4304, SF2511, HF4090, HF357, HF901

Keywords: alcohol consumption, nursing homes, assisted living, resident activities, Minnesota Statutes, seasonal liquor licenses, resorts, intoxicating liquor, county board, Brainerd, Northern Pacific Center, event center, liquor license, on-sale license, alcohol sales, special law, local option, Minnesota liquor law, chapter 340A, Sunday sales

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an RTD discussion made with liquor. These are in high demand.
• We were going to sell liquor, and that's what we do. ...to sell liquor, and that's what we do.
• There are liquor taxes in most of the cities in the state that sell liquor.
• They do a 7% tax on liquor... ...Northport. They do a 7% tax on liquor sales in that state.
• But currently, so does the liquor go up on the percent... ...the liquor go up on the percent.

Bills: HB521

Keywords: HB521, mixed spirit beverages, ready-to-drink cocktails, RTD alcohol, alcoholic beverages, liquor, spirits, ABC Board, Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control, wholesaler license, retail license, distribution agreement, exclusive territory, three-tier system, excise tax, alcohol tax, liquor regulation, alcohol labeling, minors, package store

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2291 establishes the Kratum Consumer Protection Act to be administered and enforced by the Liquor
• First, it sets a minimum purchase age of 21 and makes it illegal to distribute kratom to young people
• It also modifies the proposed prohibition on using coupons to distribute cigarettes, tobacco products
• and leased out by another liquor licensee or person.
• and leased out by another liquor licensee or person.

Bills: HB2291, HB2629, HB2439, HB1078, HB1701, HB2207, HB2501, HB2361, HB1932

Keywords: kratom, consumer protection, regulation, health safety, substance control, infrastructure, protection, safety, security, state regulations, public health, tobacco regulation, smoking cessation, vapor products, health policy, youth prevention, pet insurance, insurance regulation, animal welfare, claims processes

Summary: The committee opened a public hearing on House Bill 2291, the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, and received a staff briefing describing a licensing and regulatory framework for kratom processors and retailers, age restrictions, product bans, labeling and testing requirements, a public product directory, an 11% excise tax, and enforcement by the Liquor and Cannabis Board. The prime sponsor said the bill is intended to regulate natural kratom while banning synthetic or chemically altered products, and members asked about local authority, impaired driving, and whether the bill should more closely resemble cannabis or opioid regulation. Testimony was mixed: retailers and cities supported regulation but raised concerns about the $1,000 license fee and state preemption of local bans; public health and youth prevention witnesses supported the bill and warned about addiction, child exposure, and overdoses; kratom users and the Global Kratom Coalition defended natural kratom leaf as a lawful botanical and opposed treating it like cannabis or imposing high barriers to entry. The hearing on HB 2291 was then closed, and the committee moved into executive session on several other bills. In executive session, the committee heard staff briefings on multiple measures, including HB 2439 on cigarette, vapor product, and tobacco policy; HB 1078 on pet insurance continuity; HB 1701 on multiple liquor licensees in one facility; HB 2207 on bonded beer warehousing; HB 2501 on real estate disclosure language for heating oil tanks; HB 2361 on increasing the maximum small loan amount; and HB 1932 on cannabis consumption events. Members discussed proposed substitutes and amendments, including changes to consumer protection enforcement, coupon restrictions, local preemption, licensing details, and funding allocations. The committee also took a brief caucus recess before voting on bills. The committee adopted amendments and reported HB 2439, HB 1078, HB 1701, HB 2207, HB 2501, HB 2361, and HB 1932 out of committee with do-pass recommendations. HB 2439’s substitute was amended to limit one Consumer Protection Act enforcement provision to the Attorney General, adjust coupon language, and restore state preemption; the bill passed 12-3. HB 1078 passed unanimously after a substitute addressing affiliated-company policy transfers for pet insurance. HB 1701 and HB 2207 each passed with one dissenting vote after substitutes revised liquor and beer warehousing provisions. HB 2501 passed unanimously as a technical update to the seller disclosure form. HB 2361, as amended to make inflation adjustments biennial and change reporting requirements, passed 13-2. HB 1932, creating a regulated cannabis consumption event license, passed 11-4 after debate over public consumption and cannabis policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• liquor lockable liquor cabinets at um uh liquor lockable liquor cabinets where<00:07:24.280><c> what
• It’s fun that it’s a liquor bill.
• on-sale intoxicating liquor.
• The Union Depot would be able to distribute on-sale intoxicating liquor.
• on-sale intoxicating liquor.

Bills: HF1262, HF1741, HF472, HF1668, HF2055, HF1786, HF1876, HF1089, HF1121, HF509, HF1545, HF2027, HF642

Keywords: food truck, liquor license, temporary license, community events, catering, municipal regulations, food hall, St. Louis Park, on-sale, intoxicating beverages, food vendors, common seating area, HF472, Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato, MSU Mankato, Taylor Center, special liquor license, on-sale wine license, malt liquor license

Bills: HB431, HB466, HB523, HB521, SB182, SB300

Keywords: Monroe County, sheriff, sheriff compensation, county salary, expense allowance, local act, county general fund, retirement contributions, law enforcement pay, public official salary, county budget, Alabama local legislation, service contracts, consumer protection, advertising disclosure, insurance, contract cancellation, parole procedures, advocacy, parole board

Transcript Highlights:

• person apparently under the influence of liquor.
• under the influence of liquor.
• of liquor in certain circumstances.
• while apparently under the influence of liquor.
• They'd still be held liable by the Liquor Control Board.

Bills: HB1977

Keywords: indemnification, liquor, commercial servers, liquor liability, business protection, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to know, do you understand it this way as well, that folks are going out and going to the liquor
• the products related to them in hemp, that significantly changes the way this bill structures distribution
• Members, House Bill 3851 is a bill about the process of selling private label and how they're distributed
• directly from a liquor store instead of the wholesale, or am I on the wrong bill?
• That bill we passed a minute ago would allow a fraction of their purchases to come from a liquor store

Bills: HB3334, HB4248, HB4454, HB3851

Keywords: alcohol regulation, retail, recordkeeping, reporting, state laws, HB4248, hemp beverage, hemp drinks, THC beverage, cannabis beverage, intoxicating hemp, age restriction, under 21, minor possession, youth access, public health and safety, Title 63, Oklahoma Statutes, retail sales, alcohol-style regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to know, do you understand it this way as well, that folks are going out and going to the liquor
• the products related to them in hemp, that significantly changes the way this bill structures distribution
• Members, House Bill 3851 is a bill about the process of selling private label and how they're distributed
• directly from a liquor store instead of the wholesale, or am I on the wrong bill?
• That bill we passed a minute ago would allow a fraction of their purchases to come from a liquor store

Bills: HB3334, HB4248, HB4454, HB3851

Keywords: alcohol regulation, retail, recordkeeping, reporting, state laws, HB4248, hemp beverage, hemp drinks, THC beverage, cannabis beverage, intoxicating hemp, age restriction, under 21, minor possession, youth access, public health and safety, Title 63, Oklahoma Statutes, retail sales, alcohol-style regulation

Summary: The Tobacco, Alcohol, and Controlled Substances committee met with a quorum and considered several bills related to alcohol distribution and hemp/THC products. House Bill 3334, presented by Rep. Hays, would create a limited retail on-supply alcohol act allowing on-premise licensees to buy alcohol beverages from off-premise licensees. Supporters said it could help rural businesses facing strained supply chains and delayed deliveries after alcohol market changes; the committee voted to pass the bill. The committee then heard House Bill 4248, which would add protections to keep children from ingesting alcoholic drinks containing hemp with THC-like effects. Members discussed whether the bill might be amended further, but the author said the goal was to protect kids and preserve the bill’s current structure. The committee voted to pass HB 4248. House Bill 4450, presented by Rep. Newton, would regulate THC gummies and liquids by requiring serving-size labeling, limiting servings to 10 milligrams of THC each, and prohibiting child-attractive shapes such as animals, cartoons, or human forms. Members raised concerns about vague language like “reasonable resemblance” and about color restrictions, and the author said he was willing to work on those provisions. The committee voted to pass the bill. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 3851, which Rep. Marti said concerns the process for selling and distributing private label products and clarifies the ABLE Commission’s interpretation of current law. An amendment deleting Sections 1 and 3 was adopted without objection, and the committee then voted to pass the bill as amended. The meeting ended with the chair noting it was the last meeting of the year and adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and members, Senate Bill 1478 makes various changes to statute relating to liquor regulations
• statute relating to the preemption on federal food safety regulations, and lastly redefining various liquor
• This bill, as the sponsor said, is a culmination of the liquor industry stakeholders coming together
• planning departments could work together to come to some happy medium amongst themselves and do like the liquor

Bills: SB1254, SB1431, SB1478, SB1566, SB1787

Keywords: workers' compensation, industrial commission, safety regulations, employee protection, penalties, compliance, municipal planning, homeowners associations, design regulations, property rights, building permits, single-family homes, liquor, alcohol, spirituous liquor, liquor license, liquor licensing, Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control, restaurant to-go cocktails, mixed cocktails

Bills: HB1382, HB3945, HB4449, HB5043, HB5388, HB5397, HB5499

Keywords: education, funding, student support, financial aid, K-12, higher education, weather modification, prohibition, criminal offense, Texas, agriculture, environmental control, agriculture law, Texas legislation, chemical control, Texas law, massage therapy, regulation, licensing, criminal penalties

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair O'Driscoll, you have a DE2 amendment which reflects the agreed-to House position for the liquor
• And there's some language in the bill that clarifies really where that liquor license can be.
• There's a member in the House that is in Bloomington and their liquor license is required.
• Restrictions are in place to make sure that liquor is properly being managed.
• I know how difficult liquor bills can be just because of all the conversation.

Bills: HF2601, HF2607, HF2027, HF2608

Keywords: financial institutions, insurance regulation, insurance holding company, group capital calculation, liquidity stress test, NAIC, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, insurer solvency, affiliate transactions, groupwide supervision, internationally active insurance group, lead state commissioner, policyholder protection, hazardous financial condition, deposit or bond, contract for deed, conventional loan, cooperative apartment loan, mortgage interest rate cap, average prime offer rate

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, House Bill 1526 relates to the snack bar liquor license.
• Next, House Bill 1526 relates to the snack bar liquor license.
• The bill allows holders of the snack bar license to sell one. snack bar liquor license.

Bills: HB1526

Keywords: liquor license, snack bar, state regulations, alcohol sales, business licensing, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The agenda today is the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee omnibus liquor bill.
• You will recall the day that we were discussing liquor.
• </c> alcohol in um places that have um liquor alcohol in um places that have um liquor licenses<00:30
• </c> for the bill I know how difficult liquor for the bill I know how difficult liquor bills<00:40:35.280
• </c> uh it it's difficult to carry liquor uh it it's difficult to carry liquor bills<00:40:52.760><c>

Bills: HF2601, HF2607, HF2027, HF2608

Keywords: financial institutions, insurance regulation, insurance holding company, group capital calculation, liquidity stress test, NAIC, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, insurer solvency, affiliate transactions, groupwide supervision, internationally active insurance group, lead state commissioner, policyholder protection, hazardous financial condition, deposit or bond, contract for deed, conventional loan, cooperative apartment loan, mortgage interest rate cap, average prime offer rate

Transcript Highlights:

• We appreciate the work of this committee and respect the Liquor and Cannabis Board.
• We saw the outdated effects of these structural backgrounds just last year when discussing the liquor
• that presents some challenges because of the amount of material and issues before the board with liquor
• Yeah, I've often felt that the board was overwhelmed by the cannabis being brought into the liquor board
• I'm of the opinion that, having chaired this committee in the House when we had just the liquor and the

Bills: SB6290, SB6282, SB5379, SB6197, SB6158, SB6302, SB5882, SB6303, SB6180, SB6195, SB6196, SB6204, SB6287

Keywords: liquor regulation, cannabis board, reorganization, state agency, governance, apprenticeship, behavioral health, construction trades, workforce training, wellness, interest arbitration, parks and recreation, public employees, labor relations, employee rights, SB 6197, plumbing contractor, plumber, contractor licensing, licensing enforcement

Summary: The Labor and Commerce Committee first suspended the five-day notice rule to take up Senate Bill 629, which would restructure the Liquor and Cannabis Board. Proponents from the hospitality and cannabis industries argued the current board is overloaded by combining liquor and cannabis regulation and said a larger or differently structured board would improve focus, accountability, and stakeholder engagement. A substance misuse prevention representative opposed the bill, warning that shifting the agency toward a board controlled largely by legislative appointments would be a major governance change and could disrupt existing interagency systems. The committee then moved the bill into executive session but did not take final action on SB 629 in the portion of the transcript provided. In executive session, the committee heard and acted on several other bills. It adopted substitutes and advanced SB 6282 on behavioral health training for construction apprentices, SB 5379 on interest arbitration for Parks and Recreation Commission employees, SB 6197 on plumber license suspension for repeat violations, SB 6158 on factory-built housing inspections, SB 6302 on limits for independent contractors on public works finishing work, SB 5882 on PTSD claims for local correctional facility workers, SB 6195 on cannabis oversupply and producer tier thresholds, SB 6196 on kratom taxation, SB 6204 on home cultivation of cannabis, and SB 6287 on kratom product restrictions. Several of these bills were sent to Ways and Means because of fiscal impacts, while SB 6204 was sent to Rules after adoption of an amendment allowing local governments to ban or restrict home cultivation in residential areas. Testimony and committee discussion reflected mixed views on the policy bills. Supporters of the cannabis and kratom measures emphasized public health, youth prevention, and the need to modernize regulation, while opponents raised concerns about cost, agency burden, overregulation, and the scope of taxation or restrictions. On SB 6302, some members supported the effort to address worker misclassification, while others objected to the cap on independent contractors. The committee also noted that SB 6303 on cannabis packaging and vapor devices would not move that day. Most bills were reported out with do pass recommendations and subject to signatures, with several going to Ways and Means for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> games licensed liquor uh establishments. games licensed liquor uh establishments.
• liquor license establishment.
• Liquor law, actually, the package liquor store is the most restrictive liquor location in Wyoming because
• What's their liquor license?'
• </c> situation with liquor liquor licensing. situation with liquor liquor licensing.

Bills: SF0044, SF0046

Keywords: gambling, lotteries, raffles, social relationships, charitable gaming, gaming, liquor establishments, skill based amusement games, regulations, age restrictions, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next we have the PUC with comments. and distribution services through the and distribution services through
• </c> distribution and transmission. distribution and transmission.
• . distribution. distribution.
• </c><01:11:48.480><c> their</c> to them, let alone distribute their to them, let alone distribute their
• As and distribution on the other side.

Bills: SB3326, SB2911

Keywords: renewable energy, energy storage, cost reduction, public utilities commission, Hawaii energy policies, intoxicating liquor, direct shipment, breweries, distilleries, Hawaii, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard SB 3001 on artificial intelligence in a joint Commerce and Consumer Protection/Labor and Technology hearing. Testimony included support from the Department of Education and Google, comments from the Office of Consumer Protection and the Attorney General’s office, and late opposition from Agentic LLC. The Attorney General raised constitutional and vagueness concerns and suggested clarifying amendments, while Google said the bill’s risk-based approach and proposed amendments could help establish industry-wide safety standards for minors. The committees recessed and then voted to pass SB 3001 with amendments, adopting DCCA/OCP recommendations on data minimization for minors and UDAP clarity, the Attorney General’s proposed clarifications and deletions, and Google’s nonconflicting amendments; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050. The vote passed unanimously among members present, with some members excused. The Commerce and Consumer Protection committee then took up several previously heard measures in decision-making. SB 2045 on combat sports passed with amendments reflecting DCCA and boxing commission recommendations, including clarifying the on-site medical professional requirement, reporting duties, promoter payment, removal of the combat sports registry and ambulance requirement, and other technical changes; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050. SP 2347 on the residential landlord-tenant code passed with amendments striking landlord requirements so OCP could work on a multilingual tenant-rights notice, and SP 2495 on consumer protection passed with amendments requiring OCP to publish an annual report on potential code violations. SB 2777 on insurance was deferred to February 17, 2026 for further decision-making. At a later CPN decision-making agenda, SB 2471 and SB 2829, both relating to the powers of artificial persons, passed with amendments clarifying the preamble, removing language about foreign artificial persons, and making other consistency and non-substantive changes; both effective dates were moved to January 1, 2027. SP 2033 on renewable energy also passed with amendments clarifying the definition of grid-ready homes, cost-sharing provisions, applicability to interconnecting customers, and safety/certification compliance, with the effective date deferred to July 1, 2050. In each case, the committee voted to adopt the recommendations without objections from members present. The committees also heard SB 3000 on insurance, which would authorize the Attorney General to bring civil actions to recover costs and losses tied to climate-attributable harm and future climate risk, including costs incurred by state insurance-related entities. The Insurance Division and Attorney General’s office offered comments seeking clarification and warning about redundancy, implementation issues, possible representation of private insurers, and concurrent litigation concerns. Supporters, including the Center for Climate Integrity, a resident testifier, Sierra Club, and Green America, argued the bill would help shift insurance costs to fossil fuel companies responsible for climate harms and address rising premiums and nonrenewals in Hawaii. Opponents, including the American Petroleum Institute, argued the bill singled out one industry, raised constitutional concerns, and should be deferred because related climate litigation is already pending. The transcript ends with the committee continuing testimony and discussion on SB 3000 and then moving into SB 3326 on energy, where the consumer advocate and Hawaiian Electric opposed the bill’s proposed separation of generation from transmission and distribution, while the PUC stood on written testimony, Retail Merchants of Hawaii supported it, and Life of the Land raised concerns about assumptions and the need for more substance.

Transcript Highlights:

• Page one, a person 18 years of age or over who violates the Controlled Substances Act by distributing
• Any person who is at least 18 years of age or who violates the Controlled Substances Act by distributing
• </c> something with with the uh distribution something with with the uh distribution of<00:01:42.479>
• </c> substances act by distributing substances act by distributing distributing<00:02:13.920><c> methamphetamine
• </c><00:02:14.879><c> or</c> distributing methamphetamine or distributing methamphetamine or controlled

Bills: SF0009

Keywords: fentanyl, controlled substances, minors, drug distribution, enhanced penalties, 916, all

Bills: SB 8, SB 650, SB 667, SB 779, SB 1349, SB 1355, SB 1378, SB 1585, SB 1721, SB 2312

Keywords: immigration enforcement, ICE agreements, sheriff grants, law enforcement, county jail, federal immigration law, public nuisance, civil actions, legal claims, abatement, Texas law, transnational repression, foreign law enforcement, criminal offenses, law enforcement training, first amendment rights, public safety, liquor, distiller, wholesaler

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 5994 relates to the distribution of timber tax revenues.
• Senate Bill 5994 relates to the distribution of timber tax revenues.
• One percent of the tax goes to the state general fund, with the remaining 4% being distributed to the
• with revenue coming in and how it gets distributed.
• with revenue coming in and how it gets distributed.

Bills: SB5994

Keywords: timber tax, school funding, levy failure, tax distribution, education funding, 904, all