Committee hears substitute to expand alcohol delivery radius to 25 miles; hearing only

Chairman Carpenter presented the substitute to House Bill 369, explaining the measure would permit third‑party delivery of alcohol within a set 25‑mile radius and would preserve taxation at the point of sale — the retailer from which the order is picked up. He said the change would resolve jurisdictional problems that inhibit customers living near county lines from receiving deliveries from nearby retailers in a different jurisdiction.

Committee members raised procedural and policy questions about the 25‑mile cap, rural counties’ geographic breadth, potential interactions with existing personal delivery device rules enacted previously, regulatory jurisdiction and whether the bill should be heard in Regulated Industries. Chairman Carpenter said the 25‑mile figure was not fixed and was intended to address rural counties where county widths make shorter radii impractical.

Several members urged the committee to give members time to digest the substitute language; the panel agreed to treat the sub as a hearing topic and deferred final action to allow further review and coordination with the committee of jurisdiction. Questions remain about how sales‑and‑use tax remittance will interact with online and interstate sellers under the Wayfair framework and whether the substitute affects distilleries/wineries or other license classes (sponsor said it does not). The committee did not take a final vote on HB 369 during the session.

The committee will consider the substitute on a later date after members have had time to review the sub and consult with regulated‑industry staff and counsel.