Bill > S104

This bill aims to amend Chapter 138 of the General Laws to address unfair trade practices and the relationship between small brewers and wholesalers in Massachusetts. The key provisions include: 1. Defining a "small brewer" as a supplier whose total global malt beverage sales do not exceed six million barrels in a calendar year, and establishing a process for determining whether a supplier qualifies as a small brewer. 2. Allowing small brewers to refuse to sell to a wholesaler without cause, with varying notice periods and compensation requirements based on the small brewer's annual production volume (30 days' notice for up to 5,000 barrels, 45 days' notice for 5,001-350,000 barrels, and 60 days' notice for 350,001-6 million barrels). 3. Requiring any disputes regarding whether a supplier is a small brewer to be resolved through final, binding arbitration. 4. Establishing an arbitration process for determining the fair market value compensation owed to a wholesaler when a small brewer refuses to sell, with the wholesaler's right to compensation being the sole and exclusive remedy. 5. Applying the provisions of this bill to all existing and future relationships between small brewers and wholesalers in Massachusetts.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S104