Bill > SB2136

This bill amends two sections of the North Dakota Century Code related to the relationships between brewers and beer wholesalers, specifically addressing several prohibited practices. In Section 1, the bill expands restrictions on brewers, explicitly prohibiting them from inducing or coercing wholesalers to accept unordered deliveries, forcing wholesalers to violate state laws, limiting their ability to sell other brewers' products, demanding confidential competitive information, or failing to provide written contracts. Notably, the bill adds a new provision preventing brewers from mandating or prohibiting wholesalers' use of business-to-business electronic commerce platforms. In Section 2, the bill modifies language regarding the sale of a brewer, removing the condition that the purchaser must continue operating as a brewer and instead simply stating that a purchase (which includes stock sales, asset sales, mergers, leases, transfers, or consolidations) obligates the new owner to honor existing agreements, except in cases of good cause. These changes aim to provide more protection and flexibility for beer wholesalers in their relationships with brewers and ensure fair business practices in the alcohol distribution industry.

Business and Industry

https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/bill-overview/bo2136.html