Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee Senate Bill SB1816

Introduced
1/20/26  
Engrossed
3/9/26  
Enrolled
4/15/26  
Passed
4/27/26  

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 57, Chapter 3, relative to manufacturing of alcohol.

Summary

SB1816 amends Tennessee’s alcohol manufacturing definitions in Title 57, Chapter 3. The bill revises the statutory definitions of “manufacture” and “manufacturer” to expressly include brewing high alcohol content beer, distilling distilled spirits, rectifying distilled spirits, bottling distilled spirits, and operating a winery, and it correspondingly defines the types of businesses and persons covered by those terms. In practical terms, the bill updates the state’s alcohol regulatory framework so that these activities are clearly recognized as manufacturing for purposes of Tennessee alcohol law. That can affect licensing, regulation, and compliance obligations for breweries, distilleries, bottlers, rectifiers, and wineries operating in the state, while also aligning the code’s terminology with current industry categories.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 57, Chapter 3, Section 57-3-101, by replacing the existing definitions of “manufacture” and “manufacturer.” The change does not create a new regulatory scheme, but it clarifies and expands the statutory language governing alcohol production businesses. This affects entities engaged in beer, spirits, and wine production by placing them squarely within the defined manufacturing categories used elsewhere in Tennessee’s alcohol laws.

Sentiment

The available voting history shows strong and unanimous support for the bill. It was recommended for passage in the Senate State & Local Government Committee by an 8-0 vote and then adopted on the Senate floor by a 32-0 vote. The lack of recorded opposition suggests the measure was viewed as a straightforward technical or clarifying update rather than a controversial policy change.

Contention

No committee transcript or recorded debate is provided, and the vote history shows no opposition. As a result, there is no evident substantive contention in the available record. The bill appears to have been treated as a noncontroversial clarification of alcohol manufacturing terminology, with support likely centered on updating the code to reflect current industry practices and licensing categories.

Companion Bills

TN HB1803

Crossfiled AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 57, Chapter 3, relative to manufacturing of alcohol.

Previously Filed As

TN HB1803

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 57, Chapter 3, relative to manufacturing of alcohol.

TN HB0381

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 57, relative to consumption of alcoholic beverages on premises.

TN SB0308

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 57, relative to consumption of alcoholic beverages on premises.

TN SB0192

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 57, relative to alcoholic beverages.

TN HB0200

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 57, relative to alcoholic beverages.

TN SB1620

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 57, relative to consumption of alcoholic beverages on premises.

TN HB1652

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 57, relative to consumption of alcoholic beverages on premises.

TN HB1901

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 43; Title 57 and Title 67, relative to tax credits for alcoholic beverage byproducts donated for agricultural use.

TN SB2339

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 43; Title 57 and Title 67, relative to tax credits for alcoholic beverage byproducts donated for agricultural use.

TN SB2019

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 57, relative to alcoholic beverages.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.