SB 7120, the Senate version of House Bill 1329, the so-called “Craft Brewery Killing” bill, made it through the committee on Wednesday.

According to Josh Aubuchon, the executive director of the Florida Brewers Guild, the bill has some very problematic language:

Members of the Florida Brewers Guild,

Today, we suffered a setback in our fight against the distributor lobby.

[SB 7120] was amended with some very problematic language that we are fighting to remove from the bill. The amendment changes the current structure on how breweries may sell beer to-go, i.e. for consumption off-premises, by PROHIBITING them from selling their own beer packaged in bottles or cans UNLESS it was purchased from a distributor. Additionally, it provides an exemption for distributors as to the come-to-rest requirement pertaining to Florida beer. What does this scenario look like? A distributor can come to your brewery, purchase your beer, and then sell it back to you at a higher price in order for you to sell it in your tasting room. If they are even more malicious, since you lose control of your beer once it is sold to them, they could limit the amount they sell back to you or even refuse to sell you your own beer.

As of publication time, information on the vote was not available via the Florida Senate’s website.

Now is a great time to take a moment and contact your own senator, or contact the members of the Committee on Regulated Industries.