The
House Regulatory Reform Committee held a hearing Tuesday on a package of
legislation intended to raise limits and expand the operations of Michigan’s
craft beer industry.
House
Bills 4709,
4710,
and 4711,
introduced by Representatives Kevin Cotter (R-Mt. Pleasant), Peter MacGregor
(R-Cannon Township), and Andy Schor (D-Lansing), respectively, heard support
from the Michigan Brewers Guild, the Michigan Restaurant Association, the
Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association and Michigan Alcohol Policy.
The
three-bill package proposes to modernize archaic restrictions governing the craft
beer industry. HB 4709 would allow a Micro-brewery to grow past the
current 30,000 barrel restriction, HB 4710 would allow for a brewpub owner to
own a total of six brewpubs, three more than current law allows, and HB 4711
would allow the state’s largest breweries to open/own more than one restaurant.
The
Chairman of the panel, Representative Hugh Crawford (R-Novi) intends to move
the package upon the introduction of some remaining measures in October.