SB153, the homebrewing legalisation bill, has passed the Alabama Senate!
This being politics, there was an amendment made to the bill which helped it to pass. This amendment restricts the transportation of homebrew to no more than 20gallons at a time, whether to clubs, competitions, or whatever, but this does not affect the quantity that can be brewed which falls under the Federal guidelines.
I now have the updated wording of the bill, which now says:
6 (c) Not more than 20 gallons of beer, mead, cider, or wine produced under this
7 section may be removed from the premises where it was produced
8 and may be transported for personal and noncommercial uses,
Nothing is guaranteed, not in politics, but this is a very exciting stage, and massive kudos to Alabama’s homebrewers for passing the Senate! Next stage – the House!
11 Comments
What happened with the brewery bill? a post form 2 weeks ago says it was going to be introduced to the full senate the next day.
politics is a very strange thing. There are no guarantees, sadly.
So does this mean 20 gallons at any given time? Or 20 gallons per year? Or what?
That’s a good question, Ryan, but that will be a matter for the ABC to decide.
I was wondering the same thing when I read that. I hope its at any one time. Please let it be so.
Everyone PLEASE contact your state Representative and tell them you support this legislation!!!! If you don’t mind, please also educate them on the hobby, but even if you don’t do that, TELL THEM (politely) THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION! Thanks.
Hey Stuart, are you the one who was serving wheat beers with me at the FTH autism fundraiser last Fall??
Thanks for the update. I didn’t expect such a jump forward in one day, since we were calling late last week just to get it on the senate calendar. Can’t say I understand the process very well… at least not in the form that is filed at Alison (http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/ACASLogin.asp) – see what I cut from the 2/23 activity report below.
Anyone have further explanation? Was it debated in depth? Was there significant opposition? Did it nearly die? Does Senator Beason deserve a round of applause for keeping this bill alive? Or did this bill make it through relatively easily compared to others?
I’d like to get a better picture of potential obstacles ahead….
================================
SB153
——
Lost in house of origin
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass lost Roll Call 356
Third Reading Passed
Beason motion to reconsider third reading adopted Roll Call 385.
Beason motion to reconsider passage vote.
Dixon Amendment Offered
Motion to Adopt adopted Roll Call 386
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call 387
Third Reading Received
=======================================
What exactly are you asking? The order of events on ALISON can be a bit off. Here’s what happened:
1. BIR passed 15-6 (a BIR is a procedural vote requiring a 3/5 supermajority in order to consider a bill prior to passing the state budgets)
2. Bill failed 7-13. Usually this means the bill is dead.
3. Beason introduced motion to reconsider, or re-vote on the bill. Only a senator who was on the prevailing side can introduce such a motion and it requires a simple majority to re-hold the vote. Beason voted No so he could make the motion. Not sure why he did it except maybe as a favor to the sponsor (who obviously wouldn’t have voted against it). Beason abstained on the second vote. The bill is back up for debate.
4. Dixon introduces the amendment. It passes 15-2.
5. The bill passes vote #2 13-6.
6. The bill is sent to the House.
Thanks Dan for addressing my “barrage of questions”. Looks like you understood my confusion and provided more clarity.
Apparently if the “20gal transport limit” ammendment caused such a swing in support, there must have been some debate about that particular part of the bill?
I don’t follow the legislative process as I should, but I find it interesting… I imagine even if I was there witnessing it, I wouldn’t be able to follow along. Soon as you start voting about whether to vote, my head starts spinning.
Just curious: Is there a better source online for this info? Is the legislature tweeting? I suppose you get much of your info via calls to your “contacts on the inside”?
Anyway, I raise a toast to SB153 and its continued progress!
Steve Manhart
A good overview can be found here: http://www.legislature.state.al.us/misc/legislativeprocess/legislativeprocess.html
The Senate HB vote caught me by surprise. I was just able to decode ALISON b/c I’ve followed state and local politics for a while.
sorry, I was not at the Autism benefit last year – sadly for me