Today is the deadline to pass bills out of the Illinois House. State Representative Frank Mautino (D-Spring Valley) pledged HB 2606 would be called for a vote by the 19th, so today is the day.
For those of you just joining us, the legislation would prohibit a brewer from owning a distributor in Illinois. This bill, even though it hasn’t been voted on by either chamber, has already caused Anheuser-Busch to agree to sell its ownership interest in wholesaler City Beverage by 2015 – as laid out in the proposed legislation.
The concession comes five months after the Illinois liquor Control Commission voted to allow AB to retain its 30-percent ownership interest in City Beverage, ending a years long dispute over whether the Illinois Liquor Control Act permits a brewer to own a distributor.
12:51 pm
Voting…
12:50 pm
State Rep David Leitch: “the last time we passed this bill (SB754), it went out of here unanimously, I recommend we send it out of here unanimously again.”
12:49 pm
Harris also asks about small brewer self-distribution rights. Mautino says HB 2606 has NO impact on self-distribution.
12:48 pm
State Rep David Harris quizzing Mautino on past legislative intent and why a brewer shouldn’t own a distributor.
12:47 pm
Mautino retracing steps of the previously passed Craft Brewer Act and how IL Liquor Control Commission ignored the intended public policy prohibiting a brewer from owning a distributor.
12:46 pm
State Rep Frank Mautino (D-Spring Valley) presenting, “out of state brewers are prohibited from holding a distributors license.”
12:45 pm
And HB 2606 is up…
12:45 pm
Speaker says there are still 40 bills to be voted on before the House closes up shop for the day. HB 2606 is one of those 40.
11:40 am
Up to 73 sponsors/co-sponsors. Now all we need is for the bill to be called for a vote…
10:54 am
HB 2606 now has a veto-proof majority of sponsors and co-sponsors, 71 and – apparently – still counting.
10:29 am
Homebrew legislation bill sponsor, State Rep Keith Farnham’s (D-Elgin) support, makes it an even 70.
9:59 am
69 lawmakers now signed on in support of HB 2606…
9:22 am
It takes 60 yes votes to pass a bill out of the House. 71 votes = a veto-proof majority.
9:20 am
Support continues to build for the bill. There are now 68 lawmakers signed on as sponsors/co-sponsors of HB 2606.
9:20 am
The House gaveled in at 8:30 and has been burning through bills, so we are going to crank this up in anticipation of HB 2606 being called for a vote soon.