Bill > SB563

This bill establishes a new licensing framework for small wineries to directly ship wine to consumers and licensees in New Hampshire. Specifically, the bill defines a "direct wine shipper" as a winery located outside of New Hampshire that produces fewer than 5,000 cases of wine annually and wants to ship wine directly to consumers in the state. Wineries can apply to the New Hampshire Liquor Commission for an annual license, which will allow them to ship wine directly to consumers and licensees. The bill requires these small wineries to pay a 25 percent surcharge on all sales made in New Hampshire, which must be remitted to the commission by the 15th day of the following month. Direct wine shippers must also submit monthly reports detailing the quantity of wine sold, names and addresses of customers, sale prices, and total surcharges collected. The liquor commission is authorized to suspend or revoke licenses for violations of wine shipping laws, and must establish rules for implementing the program, including application procedures, reporting formats, and enforcement mechanisms. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2026, and is expected to generate between $10,000 and $100,000 in new state revenue through license fees and surcharges.

Business and Industry

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1361&inflect=2