House approves SB 176, an omnibus bill consolidating alcohol licenses and clarifying product definitions
March 02, 2022 | 2022 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah
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The Utah House on March 2 approved Senate Bill 176, a comprehensive rewrite of multiple alcohol-related provisions intended to simplify licensing, clarify product definitions and free retail capacity.
Sponsor Representative Waldrop described the measure as an "annual" alcohol-policy vehicle that consolidates certain licenses and is expected to free roughly 10 bar licenses currently held up in the system. He said the measure also clarifies the definition of seltzers: products that qualify as brewed beverages under statute would remain available in grocery and convenience stores, while products containing distilled spirits or otherwise outside the brewed-products definition would be sold through state stores.
"If they meet the definition in statute of a brewed product ... they will stay on the grocery store shelves," Waldrop said. Representative Watkins supported renaming the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services, calling the change reflective of the agency’s role.
Representative Albrecht raised concerns about rural package agencies and a passage that allows the department to require "any information the commission or department may require" for renewals; he described a prior loss at one rural package agency and warned that the renewal language could be applied in an "arbitrary and capricious" manner. Waldrop said the renewal language mirrors initial-application requirements, noted ongoing interim work to examine license lengths and that rural concerns would be included in an interim discussion.
Supporters emphasized the bill resulted from extended stakeholder working groups and many hours of policy work. The House adopted an amendment on the floor and approved the second substitute of SB 176 by a recorded vote of 64 yes to 11 no.
What’s next: The bill will be returned to the Senate for any further action required by legislative process; sponsors said they will hold interim meetings with rural package agents to hear concerns about renewal requirements.
Sponsor Representative Waldrop described the measure as an "annual" alcohol-policy vehicle that consolidates certain licenses and is expected to free roughly 10 bar licenses currently held up in the system. He said the measure also clarifies the definition of seltzers: products that qualify as brewed beverages under statute would remain available in grocery and convenience stores, while products containing distilled spirits or otherwise outside the brewed-products definition would be sold through state stores.
"If they meet the definition in statute of a brewed product ... they will stay on the grocery store shelves," Waldrop said. Representative Watkins supported renaming the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services, calling the change reflective of the agency’s role.
Representative Albrecht raised concerns about rural package agencies and a passage that allows the department to require "any information the commission or department may require" for renewals; he described a prior loss at one rural package agency and warned that the renewal language could be applied in an "arbitrary and capricious" manner. Waldrop said the renewal language mirrors initial-application requirements, noted ongoing interim work to examine license lengths and that rural concerns would be included in an interim discussion.
Supporters emphasized the bill resulted from extended stakeholder working groups and many hours of policy work. The House adopted an amendment on the floor and approved the second substitute of SB 176 by a recorded vote of 64 yes to 11 no.
What’s next: The bill will be returned to the Senate for any further action required by legislative process; sponsors said they will hold interim meetings with rural package agents to hear concerns about renewal requirements.
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