SB202: Shift in Tap Room Serving Hours

Posted On February 2, 2011

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING ON THURSDAY, FEB. 17

The hearing for SB202 is now scheduled for Thursday, February 17th in the Senate Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee. This committee usually meets at 9 am in room 412.

key points about this bill:

• Brewers will still be limited to 48 ounces per person per day, and are not asking to increase this limitation. Only 3 pints. If they want more, they must go elsewhere.
• Meets the expectations of Montanans and better fits visiting public and tourist’s schedule
• Aligns with neighboring and regional state laws, which have no hours restrictions
  
• Aligns with Montana wineries laws, which have no serving hours restrictions
  
• Provides for growth in the use of Montana grown agricultural products. Montana brewers use over 5,000,000 pounds of grain in their beer, approximately half of which is grown in Montana.
• Will create jobs at Montana breweries in serving staff and brewery staff
  
• Will create new investments and increase production at breweries on which excise and income taxes are paid

Now is the right time for you to send a message to the committee members on this bill. If interested, the committee members are:

Chair: Joe Balyeat (R-Bozeman) [email protected]
Vice Chair: Verdell Jackson (R-Kalispell) [email protected]
Carmine Mowbray (R-Polson) [email protected]
Tom Facey (D-Missoula) [email protected]
Eric Moore (R-Miles City) [email protected]
Donald Steinbeisser (R-Sidney) [email protected]
Sharon Stewart-Peregoy (D-Crow Agency) [email protected]
Mitch Tropila (D-Great Falls) [email protected]
Bruce Tutvedt (R-Kalispell) [email protected]
Gene Vuckovich (D-Anaconda) [email protected]
Jonathan Windy Boy (D-Box Elder) [email protected]