State Government Affairs Roundup: Colorado, Nebraska, and Vermont

As legislatures across the country continue to wrap up operations for the year, your association has been busy working on behalf of the craft beer industry.

In Colorado, the legislature passed Senate Bill 26-134 with strong margins to eliminate credit card swipe fees on taxes assessed in a sale. BA State Government Affairs Director Sam DeWitt joined the Colorado Brewers Guild to work closely with the Colorado Restaurant Association and other stakeholders to support this important, money-saving legislation, and were pleased when it headed to Governor Jared Polis's desk for signature. Unfortunately, despite heavy outreach from stakeholders across the spectrum, Polis vetoed the bill. The coalition of stakeholders will have to begin anew in 2027, with a new legislature and a new governor.

Next door, in Nebraska, BA Vice President of Government Affairs Marc Sorini traveled to Kearney in support of enacting franchise reforms in the state to allow brewers more freedom of movement between wholesalers. His testimony was provided to give lawmakers and regulators an update on the current market realities, particularly in light of wholesaler consolidation nationally and how that is affecting access to market for small brewers. Efforts will continue through the interim, with hopes for more progress in 2027.

Vermont passed H. 921 providing enhanced self-distribution for small brewers, allowing manufacturers the ability to self-distribute 3000 barrels per year without starting a separate wholesale entity. This could be a lifeline for small Green Mountain State brewers who are seeing their routes to market shrink with continued wholesale closings and consolidation. The governor is expected to sign the bill into law.

Vermont also passed a fifteen month adjustment to their container deposit law, increasing for one year the redemption value by one penny. Per the legislation, once the state gets its Producer Responsibility Organization online (as established under H.915), the redemption value will reduce to the original $.035. It is unknown if the governor will sign.

Efforts to move Brews to Barns legislation in Florida and Pennsylvania continue as both states move toward their budget processes. We hope to have some concrete updates in the June/next wrap-up.