AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 57, relative to alcohol.
Summary
SB 927 amends Tennessee’s alcohol code to direct the board, in carrying out its existing duties, to coordinate with wineries across the state to help create a statewide wine trail. The bill does not create a new licensing category, tax, or regulatory program; instead, it adds a promotional and coordination duty tied to the state’s wine industry.
In practical terms, the measure is aimed at tourism and economic development by encouraging collaboration among wineries and the state board to establish a connected wine trail that could be marketed to visitors. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
Impact
The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 57-3-1102, by adding a new subsection requiring the board to work with wineries statewide toward a wine trail. This changes state law by expressly assigning the board a coordination role related to winery promotion and tourism, while leaving existing alcohol regulation otherwise intact. Wineries, tourism stakeholders, and the board would be the primary affected parties.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the available record. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears straightforward and supportive of the wine industry, with an emphasis on statewide cooperation and tourism promotion. The absence of recorded controversy suggests the bill may have been relatively noncontentious in the materials provided.
Contention
The bill text itself is narrow, so there are few obvious points of contention. Any disagreement would likely center on whether the state board should devote resources to promoting a wine trail and whether such coordination favors wineries and tourism interests over other alcohol-related priorities. No specific opponents or concerns are identified in the provided transcripts or vote history.