Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3385 creates a farm winery permit, a subordinate permit designated to help Texas wineries
• This extra permit expands what wineries can do. ...can do beyond the general winery permit.
• It is available only to wineries that already hold a winery permit and produce wine with at least 75%
• And then, would the farm winery permit provide added benefits to the qualifying wineries?
• association, North Texas Winery.

Bills: HB589, HB705, HB1842, HB1874, HB2349, HB2614, HB2827, HB3012, HB3214, HB3308, HB3385, HB3529

Keywords: cosmetology, licensure, interstate compact, state regulations, public safety, workforce mobility, charitable raffles, nonprofit, wildlife conservation, ticket sales, fundraising, master electrician, electrical work, occupational licensing, work scope, Texas law, Texas Real Estate Commission, TREC, real estate broker, sales agent

Transcript Highlights:

• As way of background, a domestic winery license authorizes a winery to manufacture wine, sell wine of
• locations that we are granted under our current license of domestic wineries.
• This creates consistency and privileges for all winery locations.
• oldest producing winery west of the Cascades.
• Something the state already allows wineries to do, we cannot.

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.

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

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

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

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.

Bills: SB312, SB316, SB90

Keywords: alcoholic beverages, ABC Board, Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control, special event license, special events retail license, nonprofit special events retail license, special retail license, event storage license, government venue license, alcohol storage, alcohol transfer, beer, wine, liquor, on-premises consumption, public venue, government-owned property, municipal property, county property, state property

Transcript Highlights:

• So if we could begin with the staff briefing on 2536 allowing wineries to hold a spirits, beer, and wine
• As you stated, House Bill 2536 permits wineries to hold a spirits and wine restaurant license or a beer
• I think this bill is necessary and important and solves a problem for the wineries that appeared before
• I think this is important for small businesses, small wineries, to expand their business and draw more
• Not everyone likes to drink wine at a winery.

Bills: HB2477, HB2501, HB2465, HB2512, HB2240, HB2624, HB2536, HB2476

Keywords: real estate, appraisal, consumer protection, business operations, regulatory compliance, HB 2501, real estate disclosure, seller disclosure notice, residential property, home heating oil tank, oil tank insurance, pollution liability insurance agency, PLIA, heating oil contamination, remediation assistance, Washington real estate, property sale, buyer disclosure, seller obligations, oil heat

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee heard public hearings on several real estate, consumer, and business bills. House Bill 2477 would create a specific statute of limitations for claims against appraisers and related entities arising from appraisal reports, and limit liability to clients and intended users; the sponsor and appraisers testified that it would align Washington with other states, reduce recordkeeping burdens, lower insurance costs, and help attract new appraisers. House Bill 2512 would prohibit real estate brokers from marketing residential properties to exclusive groups unless the property is also publicly marketed; supporters framed it as a transparency and fair housing measure, while opponents argued it could limit homeowner privacy and off-market sales. House Bill 2240 would modernize self-storage rental agreements by allowing electronic execution, setting notice and acceptance rules, and clarifying procedures after termination or non-renewal; storage industry witnesses supported the clarity, while an advocate for unhoused people raised concerns about property loss and notice access. House Bill 2465 would require a Department of Health water-safety guide for short-term rentals with pools or similar facilities; the sponsor and hospitality industry supported it as a low-cost consumer safety measure, while cities raised implementation concerns that the sponsor said would be addressed by amendment. House Bill 2501 would update a seller disclosure notice to reflect the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency’s shift from a heating oil insurance program to a loan and grant/remediation program, and House Bill 2624 would exempt public entities, tribes, and nonprofit land conservancies from the “unsolicited real estate transaction” requirements adopted last year; conservation groups and DNR said the exemption was needed to preserve existing appraisal and grant processes. The committee also took executive action on two bills. House Bill 2536, allowing wineries to hold a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant license or a beer and/or wine restaurant license at one location, was reported out with a due pass recommendation on a 14-1 vote. Substitute House Bill 2476, which narrows a proposal to remove the 120-seat-per-screen limit for spirits, beer, and wine theater licenses by restoring the cap except for theaters that admit only patrons 21 and older, was also reported out with a due pass recommendation on a 13-2 vote. The committee then adjourned.

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: SB311, SB322, SB304, SB313, SB315, SB316, HB489, SB90

Keywords: electric transmission, public highways, permit processing, economic growth, infrastructure, rural development, condemnation actions, state regulations, community development district, CDD, annexation, municipal annexation, wet municipality, dry county, wet county, Sunday alcohol sales, ABC Board, alcohol licensing, on-premises consumption, golf course

Transcript Highlights:

• Current Texas law prohibits holding both a winery permit, which is a TABC G permit, and a nonresident
• It dilutes the market share for Texas wholesalers, package stores, and wineries.
• Firm Forge, our winery, is one of the largest in Texas.
• We provide custom B2B services to other wineries. We do winemaking, co-packing, things like that.
• Well, wineries, we don't want you to touch the G permit, right?

Bills: SB8, SB650, SB667, SB779, SB1349, SB1355, SB1378, SB1585, SB1721, SB2312

Keywords: immigration enforcement, ICE agreements, sheriff grants, law enforcement, county jail, federal immigration law, China, Chinese-affiliated entities, Chinese military companies, People's Republic of China, Chinese Communist Party, divestment, state pension funds, public retirement systems, Teacher Retirement System, Employees Retirement System, Permanent School Fund, Texas Comptroller, foreign investment, national security

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs resumed consideration of several pending bills, first taking up Senate Bills 667, 1349, 1585, and 2312. After inviting testimony had already been heard, no members of the public came forward to testify on any of those measures, and the committee closed public testimony and left all four bills pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1355, which Senator Parker explained as a committee substitute aimed at helping Texas distillers recover unpaid invoices from wholesalers. The substitute would require distillers to invoice at the time of purchase, send a demand letter if payment terms are violated, and allow complaints to be filed with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which could determine an appropriate penalty based on the facts. Natasha Dehart of Bent Distilling Company testified in support, describing serious cash-flow problems and unpaid invoices from a Texas wholesaler that had forced layoffs, late vendor payments, and operational strain. No one testified against the bill, and it was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1378, a narrowly tailored local bill for a Carrollton facility recently acquired by Sazerac that employs more than 1,000 Texans. Senator Parker said the bill would create a limited exemption to avoid forcing the company to shut down or move because of current permit restrictions, while preserving the three-tier system and preventing the company from selling wine to itself. A Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission resource witness said the bill was drafted so it would not open the door to broader industry changes. Mason Moreland testified against the bill as filed, arguing it gave special treatment to one company and failed to address broader problems in the wine industry, including direct-to-consumer sales and permit issues. After questions from senators, public testimony closed and SB 1378 was left pending. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Current Texas law prohibits holding both a winery permit which is a TABC-G permit, and a non-resident
• So, and I haven't looked at those sections, but so if some other out-of-state buyer of a Texas winery
• For Texas wholesalers, package stores and wineries, in that subsection B, it has a part where it does
• Firstly, Senator Perry's district, south of Lubbock, Firm Forge, our winery is one of the largest in
• Well, wineries, we don't want you to touch the G permit, right? We like the way it is.

Bills: SB8, SB650, SB667, SB779, SB1349, SB1355, SB1378, SB1585, SB1721, SB2312, SB 8

Keywords: immigration enforcement, ICE agreements, sheriff grants, law enforcement, county jail, federal immigration law, China, Chinese-affiliated entities, Chinese military companies, People's Republic of China, Chinese Communist Party, divestment, state pension funds, public retirement systems, Teacher Retirement System, Employees Retirement System, Permanent School Fund, Texas Comptroller, foreign investment, national security

Transcript Highlights:

• Bars, restaurants, private clubs. pubs, grocery stores, breweries, wineries, and convenience stores.
• explain the bill. 3756 relates to the powers of certain non-resident seller permits who also hold winery
• Current law prohibits holding both the winery permit, that's a T-A-B-C-G permit. and a non-resident sellers
• Our winery, Firm Forge, provides custom service. and Texas wines to other wineries across Texas and the

Bills: HB679, HB1764, HB1788, HB2186, HB2204, HB2418, HB2885, HB2983, HB2996, HB3250, HB3352, HB3756, HB3816, HB3913, HB3928, HB4077

Keywords: environment, regulation, land use, public health, community development, alcohol, Sunday sales, local option election, Texas, business hours, alcohol sales, liquor, off-premise consumption, alcoholic beverages, CPA, Certified Public Accountant, licensing, accountancy, state regulation, continuing education

Bills: SB1241, SB1242, SB1442, SB1592, SB1623, SB1625, SB1913, SB1940, SB1949, SB2102, SB592, SB992

Keywords: ticket sales, resale, consumer protection, fraud, bots, transparency, refunds, event tickets, medical marijuana, cannabis, marijuana license, commercial grower, grow operation, bond requirement, land reclamation fee, revolving fund, environmental remediation, redevelopment, Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, OMMA

Bills: SB1241, SB1242, SB1442, SB1592, SB1623, SB1625, SB1913, SB1940, SB1949, SB2102, SB592, SB992

Keywords: ticket sales, resale, consumer protection, fraud, bots, transparency, refunds, event tickets, medical marijuana, cannabis, marijuana license, commercial grower, grow operation, bond requirement, land reclamation fee, revolving fund, environmental remediation, redevelopment, Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, OMMA

Summary: The Business and Insurance Committee considered a series of bills focused on credit card interchange fees, insurance regulation, alcohol licensing, utility contractor authority, medical marijuana bonding, and business liability. Senators Thompson’s SB 2102 and SB 1940 sought to limit swipe fees on large financial institutions and on taxes and tips, respectively; both passed after questions about the asset thresholds and their impact on merchants and banks. SB 1625, by Senator Fricks, would let the Oklahoma Insurance Department prepare impact analyses on health benefit plan legislation, and passed unanimously. SB 1442, by Senator Dossett, lowered distiller licensing fees, created a microdistillery license, and restored a liability insurance proof requirement through an amendment; it passed 11-0. SB 1623, by Floor Leader Daniels, would revise the state credit union charter and passed 11-0. SB 1242, by Senator Hamilton, increased the bond required for medical marijuana grows from $50,000 to $100,000 and passed 10-0. The committee also heard SB 1949 from Senator Logan, which would allow utility contractors to work closer to buildings on private property, up to five feet from structures, instead of stopping at the property line. The bill drew extended questioning from Senator Brooks about permitting, training, liability, and the relationship between utility contractors and plumbers; an industry representative testified that utility contractors already do much of the work under licensed plumbers and that the bill would reduce costs and speed projects, especially in rural areas. SB 1949 passed 8-2. Senator Reinhardt’s SB 1592 and SB 1913, both insurance-related committee substitutes, were described as ongoing negotiations aimed at homeowner insurance transparency and consumer protections; members were told the bills were still being refined, but both passed, 9-1 and 10-0, respectively. Additional measures included SB 592, which would let distributors issue credits to retailers after repeated product replacements, aimed at reducing losses from poor inventory control at large retailers; it passed 9-0. SB 992 would provide civil liability protection for businesses and property owners when violent criminal acts occur on their premises, except in cases of gross negligence; it prompted debate over gun-free zones, security, insurance, and whether the bill would reduce incentives for safety measures, but passed 5-3. Finally, SB 1241 created the Oklahoma Fraud and Ticketing Accountability Act to address fake tickets, bots, deceptive resale websites, and venue liability in the live-event market; supporters included arts venues, and the bill passed 8-0. The committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Locations other than at the winery? Correct.
• Yes, so you would have a winery permit because that's... a prerequisite to obtain the farm winery permit
• wineries.
• But if we incentivized more Texas wineries to buy grapes through a farm winery permit, we would be in
• We went from us being the fourth winery in the state in 1977 to only having about 50 wineries in the

Bills: HB223

Keywords: municipal budget, county budget, local government finance, spending cap, expenditure limit, inflation plus population growth, taxpayer impact statement, budget transparency, property tax, fees, Legislative Budget Board, voter approval, disaster spending, fiscal restraint, Texas Local Government Code, city budget, county expenditures, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's designed to help support wineries and winery staff, from those that are two-person enterprises to
• The tiers were also intended to minimize impacts to small wineries through an exemption for wineries
• Winery costs and fees to discharge winery waste to land do depend largely on the age of the facility,
• , which we were really targeting as those small wineries, required, where tier one wineries, which we
• So winery costs and fees to discharge winery waste to land, So winery costs and fees to discharge winery

Summary: The Senate Select Committee on California’s Wine Industry held its first meeting at Napa Valley College, with opening remarks from Chair Senator Christopher Cabaldon and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry emphasizing the industry’s importance to California’s economy and communities. The chair said the hearing was intended to gather information and ideas, not to vote on legislation, and to inform future policy, budget, and oversight work. The first panel focused on research and trends, with speakers from Sonoma State, UC Davis, and Terrain describing the industry as facing structural change rather than a temporary downturn. Panelists said California wine is confronting falling consumption, rising costs, labor shortages, housing pressures, tariffs, and competition from imports. Dr. Damien Wilson argued the industry has relied too heavily on premiumization and must focus on attracting new consumers, especially younger generations, through more accessible products, better marketing, and evidence-based decision-making. UC Davis’s Ben Mumpeteet said grapevine disease, extreme weather, and water shortages require long-term research investment and stronger university-industry-state partnerships. Chris Bitter, a wine economist, reported that California wine sales are down about 25% since 2019, that large amounts of grapes have gone unpicked, and that vineyard removals and falling vineyard values reflect a severe supply-demand imbalance; he urged regulatory review, trade competitiveness analysis, and transition support for growers. The committee then heard from industry representatives. Michael Miller of the California Association of Wine Grape Growers described a crisis in which growers can produce high-quality fruit but have no buyers, leading to abandoned or removed vineyards, lost farm revenue, and pressure to restore market balance. Honor Comfort of the Wine Institute presented the Share Wine Co-Lab, an open-access marketing platform designed to help wineries better reach younger consumers through data-driven, collaborative outreach. Jane Lisa Tamayo of Family Winemakers of California discussed the burden on smaller wineries and growers, including regulatory and market challenges. Members and witnesses also discussed changing consumer preferences, the need to adapt to younger drinkers, and concerns about tariffs and trade policy, with the chair warning that broad tariff calls had harmed export markets such as Canada. A final panel addressed tourism, farmworker impacts, and water regulation. Visit Napa Valley’s Lindsay Gallagher said tourism remains strong in Napa but is increasingly dependent on broader destination marketing beyond wine, while international visitation has declined. Sonia DeLuca of the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation said declining sales and rising costs reduce hours and income for farmworkers and urged targeted relief, wage-loss support, and continued bilingual training. State Water Board official Annalisa Kihar outlined the 2021 Winery General Order for winery process water, saying it was designed to streamline permitting, improve consistency, and reduce burdens on small wineries while protecting water quality; she reported 56 wineries enrolled and 122 under review, and said the board is working with industry partners on technical support and sustainability-based compliance pathways.

Transcript Highlights:

• As way of background, a domestic winery license authorizes a winery to manufacture wine, sell wine of
• As way of background, a domestic winery license authorizes a winery to manufacture wine, sell wine of
• As way of background, a domestic winery license authorizes a winery to manufacture wine, sell wine of
• As way of background, a domestic winery license authorizes a winery to manufacture wine, sell wine of
• As way of background, a domestic winery license authorizes a winery to manufacture wine, sell wine of

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held public hearings on several alcohol-related bills. HB 2128 would expand the sports entertainment facility liquor license to cover publicly or privately owned facilities where patrons engage in sports, amusement, or recreational activities, such as the Leavenworth Adventure Park. The prime sponsor and supporters said it would modernize the license while keeping LCB safety controls in place; one member questioned whether it amounted to an expansion of alcohol access. A fiscal note had been requested but not yet received, and the public hearing was closed without action. The committee then heard HB 2207, which would create a bonded beer warehouse license and make related changes to bonded wine warehouse law. The sponsor said it would help a Ridgefield logistics warehouse store beer the same way it can already store wine and spirits, while supporters from the Washington Brewers Guild said it would give breweries parity with wineries. Distributors and other opponents raised concerns about direct-to-consumer shipping, public access to warehouses, and federal tax-and-trade restrictions; the sponsor said amendments were being considered to address some of those issues. The hearing was closed without action. HB 2536 would allow wineries to hold spirits, beer, and wine restaurant licenses, or beer and/or wine restaurant licenses, at additional winery locations. The sponsor and winery representatives said the bill would reduce administrative burden and let wineries operate tasting rooms and restaurant-style spaces more flexibly, while opponents argued it could broaden alcohol access and create tied-house concerns. HB 2476 would remove the 120-seat-per-screen limit for theaters seeking a spirits, beer, and wine theater license; the sponsor and theater operators said existing alcohol control plans and other safeguards would remain in place, and the change would help theaters compete and attract patrons. The committee also heard HB 1701, which would allow multiple liquor licensees to operate within a shared facility and was described as a way to support a mixed-use winery/brewery/restaurant project; the sponsor said he was willing to remove the Public Records Act exemption again, and distributors urged transparency and guardrails. In executive action, the committee took up HB 2229, revising the Professional Engineers Registration Act. After adopting Amendment CLA 407 to restore current law on the board’s name, the committee voted to report the substitute bill out with a due pass recommendation. Several members supported the bill as a modernization of registration and continuing-education provisions, while some members voted no, citing concerns about changes to board membership requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's designed to help support wineries and winery staff, from those that are a two-person enterprise
• and winery production as a whole.
• that are discharging less than 10,000 gallons of winery process water per year, where Tier 1 wineries
• , which we were really targeting as those small wineries, required... ...where Tier 1 wineries, which
• So winery costs and fees to discharge winery waste to land...

Summary: The Senate Select Committee on California’s wine industry held its first meeting at Napa Valley College, with opening remarks from Chair Senator Christopher Cabaldon and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry emphasizing the wine industry’s importance to California’s economy, communities, and tourism. The chair said the hearing was intended to gather information and ideas, not to take legislative action that day, and to prepare for future work on legislation, budget, and oversight. The first panel focused on research and trends, with experts from Sonoma State, UC Davis, and Terrain describing a major structural downturn: falling wine production and sales, rising costs, labor shortages, housing pressures, changing consumer habits, tariffs, and the loss of younger consumers. They argued the industry needs to shift toward new-customer acquisition, more accessible products and messaging, evidence-based business decisions, and greater investment in research, education, and innovation, including work on disease, climate stress, and health-related consumer questions. Committee members pressed the panel on whether the industry’s future depends on adaptation by existing producers or market-driven consolidation, and on how California can reduce regulatory burdens while maintaining standards. Witnesses said the state’s universities are a “superpower” but are underfunded for wine research, especially on the business and regulatory side, and they urged review of outdated rules, better data collection, and more efficient compliance systems. They also discussed trade competitiveness, especially with imports and the collapse of exports to Canada after tariffs, and raised the need for transitional support for vineyard removals and replanting. The chair and majority leader emphasized that regulations should be evaluated for effectiveness and that California should use its research capacity to improve both industry practices and regulatory implementation. A second panel included representatives from growers, the Wine Institute, and family winemakers. Michael Miller of the California Association of Wine Grape Growers described a severe grower crisis: grapes left unpicked, vineyards abandoned or removed, falling vineyard values, and a need for relief on regulatory costs, trade barriers, water policy, and vineyard removal expenses. Honor Comfort of the Wine Institute focused on consumer outreach, especially younger drinkers, and described the Share Wine Co-Lab, an open-access marketing platform with research, webinars, case studies, and office hours to help wineries better reach Gen Z and millennials. Jane Lisa Tamayo of Family Winemakers of California was present but her remarks were largely garbled in the transcript. Committee members again stressed the need for education, better messaging, and caution about simplistic policy fixes, while also noting the importance of Canada as an export market and the risks of tariffs. The final panel addressed tourism, farmworker impacts, and water regulation. Visit Napa Valley CEO Lindsay Gallagher said Napa’s tourism economy remains relatively strong but is feeling the same international headwinds as the wine sector, including reduced Canadian visitation; she said Napa is broadening its message beyond wine to cuisine, wellness, and outdoor experiences. Sonia DeLuca of the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation said declining sales and rising costs are reducing hours, wages, and training opportunities for farmworkers, and urged targeted relief, removal of barriers to sales, wage-loss support, and continued bilingual workforce training. She also said Napa’s workforce-development model is ready to support technology adoption if legal changes allow more automation. Finally, State Water Board official Annalisa Kihar gave an update on the Winery General Order, explaining that it was created in 2021 to streamline and standardize wastewater permitting, with tiered requirements and exemptions for very small wineries; she said 56 wineries have enrolled and 122 are under review, and that the board is working with industry and regional agencies to improve compliance support and flexibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's designed to help support wineries and winery staff from those that are a two-person enterprise to
• the most successful... ...wineries and winery staff from those that are a two-person enterprise to the
• and winery production as a whole.
• The tiers were also intended to minimize impacts to small wineries through an exemption for wineries
• that are discharging less than 10,000 gallons of winery process water per year, where Tier 1 wineries

Keywords: 987, senate, all