New Homebrew Legislation
Working with the Boreal Brewers, Representative Tom Anzelc (05B, Bovey, DFL) and Senator Tom Saxhaug (5B, Grand Rapids, DFL) have introduced legislation to revise Minnesota Statutes to allow homemade beer and wine to be removed from the premises where made, for the use in organized affairs, exhibitions, tastings and competitions. This is an important issue for us as we have repeatedly tried to find ways to host public tastings and be allowed to share samples of our fermenting craft at organized public events.
Representative Anzelc introduced HF2999 and Senator Saxhaug introduced SF2604. They should be commended for their efforts to support community events that involve sharing or sampling of homebrew. If you live in an area where you have different legislators representing you, you should contact them and ask them to support or even co-author these bills. Senators Representatives Who Represents Me?
March 12: First reading in both Houses
March 19th: SF2604 Was heard in the Senate Commerce Committee. It was laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Liquor Bill. We provided testimony and answered questions.
March 19: Representative Dan Schoen (DFL) District: 54A added as an author to HF2999
The Minnesota homebrew bill talking points are in this document: Homebrewed Beer Talking Points 3-21-2014
Another important source of information for contacting legislators can be found on the American Homebrewers Association web site AHA Talking Points.