Leslie_Sprague's blog

1st Hurdle Overcome: Senate Business & Commerce Committee Passes Craft Bill Package

With a potential vote slated for tomorrow, we have a small window of time to reach out to the Senate Business & Commerce Committee, and it's chair- Senator Carona. Let your voice be heard!
Please call into the Committee office 512-463-0365 or Chairman Carona’s office 512-463-0116 with the following ask:

Back in the fall of 2011 I remember sitting at a picnic table at the Petrol Station in Houston, TX and hashing out the broad strokes of an organization that would eventually become Open The Taps.
 
These few years later I’ve learned two things about the political process in in the Great State of Texas:
1.       Discussion and debate in Austin is filled with nuance and grey area – much more than I ever imagined, and issues I thought were purely black or white are more complex in almost all cases

Tuesday, March 5th, 2013, The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce held a hearing, the first step in the lawmaking process (see our previous post here for an overview on the steps), and one of our board members, Leslie, was able to attend and testify in favor of SB 515-518.

 
The first legislative hurdle for the craft beer bills takes place tomorrow morning at 8 am when the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce lays out the four bills (along with numerous others on the agenda) for consideration.  Without getting too deep in the weeds on the legislative process, each bill has essentially five hurdles that need to be cleared before they become laws:  Senate committee approval; full Senate approval; House committee approval; full House approval and finally a signature from the Governor. 
 

Opening the Taps Soon?

Texas Legislature - The End of the Beginning

We recently came across this article posted in the Council of State Governments that explores craft beerand its' impact in three states: Oregon, Alabama, and North Carolina. We thought we'd share it with our readers as It really captures just how far behind Texas is relative to other states. 

Open The Taps is pleased to announce that as of December 1st, 2012, we have signed a contract with well-known lobbying firm, Cornerstone Government Affairs. They will be guiding our strategy and actions for the entirety of the session. We are currently in the evaluation stages of determining how to best accomplish our goals. Please send us any of your questions, comments or concerns as we will be compiling them for a future FAQ for the website, and we'd like to hear your feedback.

On Tuesday, June 12, 2012, The Texas House of Representatives released a study on the alcohol regulations currently in place and a review of proposed changes from within the industry. This study is a result of the outcry from breweries, brewpubs, and consumers, to loosen the restrictions they are faced with in getting their product to the consumer.