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Bill > H183

MA H183

Relative to craft brewers

summary

Introduced
01/23/2017
In Committee
01/23/2017
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2018

Introduced Session

190th General Court

Bill Summary

Relative to small brewers of alcoholic beverages. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

AI Summary

This bill amends Chapter 138 of the General Laws to establish specific provisions for the relationship between small brewers and wholesalers. The key changes are: 1) It creates a "small brewer relationship" definition, where a small brewer is one whose sales to a wholesaler do not exceed 20% of the wholesaler's total sales in the prior calendar year. This relationship can be discontinued as established by contract or through the arbitration process outlined in the bill. 2) It allows small brewers to refuse to sell to a wholesaler, provided they give 30 days' written notice and identify a successor wholesaler. The successor wholesaler must then compensate the affected wholesaler for the fair market value of the distribution rights in the terminated territory, which can be determined through binding arbitration if the parties cannot agree. 3) The bill establishes an arbitration process to resolve disputes over whether a supplier-wholesaler relationship qualifies as a "small brewer relationship" or to determine fair market value compensation. Overall, this bill aims to provide more flexibility for small brewers in managing their wholesale distribution relationships compared to the standard requirements for larger manufacturers.

Committee Categories

Labor and Employment

Sponsors (63)

Brian Ashe (D),  Cory Atkins (D),  Bruce Ayers (D),  Ruth Balser (D),  Joseph Boncore (D),  Nick Collins (D),  Mike Connolly (D),  Cynthia Creem (D),  William Crocker (R),  Daniel Cullinane (D),  Angelo D'Emilia (R),  Marjorie Decker (D),  Sal DiDomenico (D),  Paul Donato (D),  James Dwyer (D),  Lori Ehrlich (D),  Kim Ferguson (R),  Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D),  Mike Finn (D),  Jennifer Flanagan (D),  Linda Forry (D),  Bill Galvin (D),  Sean Garballey (D),  Colleen Garry (D),  Susan Gifford (R),  Ken Gordon (D),  Danielle Gregoire (D),  Jonathan Hecht (D),  Natalie Higgins (D),  Bradford Hill (R),  Kate Hogan (D),  Brad Jones (R),  Jay Kaufman (D),  Kay Khan (D),  Stephen Kulik (D),  John Lawn (D),  Jack Lewis (D),  Jason Lewis (D),  David Linsky (D),  Jay Livingstone (D),  Marc Lombardo (R),  Elizabeth Malia (D),  Paul Mark (D),  James Miceli (D),  Aaron Michlewitz (D),  Brian Murray (D),  David Nangle (D),  Sarah Peake (D),  Alice Peisch (D),  Denise Provost (D),  Dave Rogers (D),  Richard Ross (R),  Byron Rushing (D),  Danny Ryan (D),  Jeffrey Sánchez (D),  John Scibak (D),  Frank Smizik (D),  Todd Smola (R),  Tom Stanley (D),  Steve Ultrino (D),  Chris Walsh (D),  Timothy Whelan (R),  Donald Wong (R), 

Last Action

Accompanied a study order, see H4638 (on 07/02/2018)
(14 Companion Bills)

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Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H183
Bill https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H183.pdf
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