I ran into Brock Wagner soon thereafter. He had just met with Rep. Farrar in Austin and gave me the details. There are particulars that the the enormous distributers lobby complain about. Those pieces needed to be minimized if the legislation is to have a chance. She was going to introduce different legislation that had a better chance of surviving.

I’ve been so busy working on a new job that I missed the introduction of the new bill, HB2094. Charles Kuffner had mention of it on his blog, but I missed that too.

It seems it was scheduled for a public hearing the day after St. Patrick’s Day. I haven’t yet heard how that went. I don’t think that newspapers pay attention to government anymore.

Whenever this bill arises, it is usually killed in committee, thanks to big money distributors (Eagle among them).  See I Love Beer for more information, and please contact your state representative!  The more light that shines on an issue, the harder it is for a legislative committee to keep it from seeing the house floor.

Open Letter:

Representative Farrar,

I hope you will show your support for HB 1062.  This would provide an economic boon to many small breweries in this state, and great enjoyment to the many Texans who visit them.

This is a right already enjoyed by the many great winemakers in our state.

The minimal amount of sales this will create is of NO THREAT to the moneyed big-business distributors that this state’s questionable legislation has helped create.

Indeed, though most of these businesses make products that don’t classify as “beer” under TABC regulation, the law should be expanded to include “beer” and there will be no future need for the legislation to revisit this law and fix it.
Your constituent,
active and registered voter,
-Bill Shirley
Houston Heights

Re:

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB1062