Texas Microbrewery Law

[Scalliwag]

House Bill 1926, our bill that will allow Texas microbreweries to sell a limited amount of beer directly to the public, was filed in the Texas House of Representatives Monday by Rep. Jessica Farrar. Now we need a hearing, and more importantly, WE NEED YOUR HELP!


The bill (HB 1926 in the lingo) has been sent to the Licensing & Administrative Procedures committee. We need to let these people know that Texas beer lovers care about this bill.

Here is what we are asking you to do. Email the representatives below.
State the following items (please restate in your own words):
-Reference HB 1926.
-You are a supporter of Texas microbreweries.
-It would enhance your visit to Texas microbreweries if you could purchase a six pack or case, just like you can when you visit microbreweries in other states.
-It will make you even more likely to purchase the beers of Texas microbreweries when you are at stores and restaurants.
-It will make Texas microbreweries stronger.

You can send out such an email in less than 5 minutes.

Even better, put this in a letter and mail it to the
representatives.

And, only if you feel you understand ALL of the implications of this bill, you can even call the reps, but don't harangue them. And, while it may seem a better idea, don't call them immediately after enjoying some of our fine beers!

Here are the members of the Licensing & Administrative Procedures Committee:

Kino Flores, Chairman (district: the Valley, Hidalgo)
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist36/flores.htm

Charlie Geren, Vice Chair (district: NW Ft. Worth)
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist99/geren.htm

Carl Isett, Budget & Oversight Chair (district: most of Lubbock)
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist84/isett.htm

Tony Goolsby (district: a swath of Dallas)
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist102/goolsby.htm

Mike "Tuffy" Hamilton (district: Orange, Vidor, east Texas)
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist19/hamilton.htm

Delwin Jones (district: areas surrounding Lubbock)
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist83/jones.htm

Borris Miles (district: Houston south inner loop and just south of 610)
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist146/miles.htm

"Chente" Quintanilla (district: east of El Paso)
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist75/quintanilla.htm

Senfronia Thompson (district: NW Houston)
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist141/thompson.htm

Etiquette:
In the mailing address, they are "The Honorable [Full Name]"
In the salutation, they are "Representative [Last Name]"

If you are curious about whose district you live in, go to the following link, but you don't need to live in any of these reps' districts in order to contact them.

http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/

[ghostofdavid]

Too much government with too much time on their hands.

I'll write a letter, too, and see what they say.

[Lakemonster]

Its new to me....

A few months back I went and had a looka t the diferent types of licencing and found that there really want an avenue for microbreweries to sell packaged beer to the public... now I know why.

I saw that the only way you could buy true micro beer was if the brewery opened up what is called a "brew-pub". Then you could only go into the establishment and drink at the bar.

I'll have to send this one on to Betty Brown. (my rep)

I noticed small wineries could do it..... why not beer?

[Scalliwag]

It is definately a step in the right direction. It is far from perfect but I think that anything that can get more microbrewery beer to more people and get the masses behind their cause the better.
A friend of mine went to Rahr's in Fort Worth and the text I posted was from the email that Rahr's had sent out.
Before I talk to my rep (Kelly Hancock) I am going to check and see if he has taken contributions from big beer.
That way if I get a negative reply I can send back an email with the contribution data and ask if that might be a factor. Rattling their cages helps. If nothing else it helps me feel better knowing I give them a good hard jab every now and then

[bmjezekiel]

I don't live in Texas but I do homebrew and love beer dearly, and I will absolutely help the cause. Count me in.