For those of you who dont know my future brother in law, Sean Bielman, is an owner of Engine 15 Brewing Co, right here in Jax Beach. They are currently fighting a battle with the big beer companies Anheiser Busch and Miller Coors, and FL legislators. Just to give you a basic run down, FL has some of the most outrageous distribution laws in the US. Currently, small local breweries are allowed to sell 32 oz. and gallon growlers, but not 1/2 gallon growlers (the most popular). How this makes any sense nobody knows. The small breweries are right now trying to get the 1/2 gallon growlers legalized but are running into corrupt big business and politicians. If you would like to learn more please read the following article below, as well as, the links. Help support Jacksonville small business, free enterprise, and all the jobs it helps provide (including my own!) Please forward to anyone you may think will be interested and want to support the movement. Thank you! Daniel Thank you to all who signed the petition against HB 1329! Further action is needed – Read on! A Favorable Strike-All was approved today by the subcommittee. HOWEVER, read more below about its “brother” bill in the Senate SPB 7120. It has similar features as HB1329 and was most certainly designed to be brought up before a committee RIGHT afterwards to catch advocates in a lull. A good explanation of this bill can be found here:craftbeer/action-alerts/attention-florida-beer-activists-support-your-states-small-brewers Please give craft beer 60 seconds of your time and send an email, details below. Back to HB 1329. No doubt the ~3,500 signatures along with everyones detailed/insightful comments were useful in the decision making process over the last few days! Many, if not most of you who signed the petition ALSO emailed the Representatives directly, which was key. Additionally each time the petition was signed an email was generated to all on the board, along with: Senator Gaetz - Who could not vote on HB 1329 bill, but has been in the headlines with his controversial public remarks regarding his Friend a NW FL beer distributor. If youve not seen this material, I would encourage you to watch the following video:myfoxtampabay/story/25000006/2014/03/17/beer-distributors-brewers-fight-over-growlers Rep. Ray Rodigues - Sponsored HB 1329 and has been under much fire from the craft brewing industry after its proposal. UNFORTUNATELY, there is a companion bill in the Senate, due to be heard this Wednesday (3/26) at 1:30PM by the Committee on Regulated Industries. Im not going to organize another petition with under 30 hours left as I believe that direct contact to the members of the committee will be more powerful at this point in the game. It is imperative that people speak up again against the bill. Little by little, pieces of unneeded regulation stack up in favor to those who have the time and money to constantly lobby - NOT small businesses! This bill is named SPB 7120. Some of the topics of the bill include (as illustrated onCraftBeers website): - Making 128 oz Growler illegal, which we just basically won the fight on in the House with HB 1329 - Prohibits specialty beer shops/retail establishments from selling growlers - Makes growler sales be face-to-face, IMO making an issue with special releases that are pre-sold - Includes language that makes sales of empty, unlabeled growlers not legal (ie home brewing supply shop) - Includes restrictions on a brewery being able to distribute beer between locations in certain situations - Includes additional restrictions on brewpubs - Make out the rest yourself, if you wish:flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2014/7120/BillText/Filed/PDF ; AGAIN, it is un-needed regulation in a State that is seeing a bubble grow! Other states are looking at how to MAKE their industry grow and attract businesses - While some of our lawmakers are busy taking contributions from huge companies to introduce laws that make starting a business LESS appealing in Florida! Let us please send another clear message to our lawmakers and help them see what Floridians want and need! Here is the list, PLEASE do 1/2 as good as you did last time! Senate President: Don Gaetz [email protected] (850) 487-5001 – Not on the committee but he is the Senate President who has the ties to the panhandle distributor and has stated that he would side with them if it came down to it. He needs to hear what Florida needs from constituents! Chair: Senator Kelli Stargel (R) [email protected] (850) 487-5015 Vice Chair: Senator Oscar Braynon, II (D) [email protected] (850) 487-5036 Senator Nancy C. Detert (R) [email protected] (850) 487-5028 Senator Anitere Flores (R) [email protected] (850) 487-5037 Senator Bill Galvano (R) [email protected] (850) 487-5026 Senator Audrey Gibson (D)[email protected] (850) 487-5009 Senator John Legg (R) [email protected] (850) 487-5017 Senator Maria Lorts Sachs (D) [email protected] (850) 487-5034*Note* Sen. Sachs filed an amendment to kill last year’s growler bill and received a couple thousand dollars from the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association in 2012. Anheuser-Busch donated $500 directly to Sachs. Gold Coast Beverage and Southern Wine & Spirits combined to donate another $1,500. (ref.komlossylaw/beersenate/) Senator Eleanor Sobel (D) [email protected] (850) 487-5033 Senator John Thrasher (R) [email protected] (850) 487-5006*Note* received a combined $1,000 from Anheuser-Busch and the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association and $500 each from Pepin and Gold Coast. (ref.komlossylaw/beersenate/) Or..Copy and paste them all [email protected],[email protected],[email protected],[email protected],[email protected],[email protected],[email protected],[email protected],[email protected],[email protected],[email protected] Tell them NO on SPB 7120, that Floridas small breweries are vital to our economic success as a state, and not to come up with any more rules/regulations that do not PROMOTE business! Its that simple! Example, and feel free to use if you are cramped for time: Subject: Please vote NO on SPB 7120 this Wednesday As a Florida constituent, I urge you to vote NO on SPB 7120. I also urge you to vote against any future unnecessary regulation on small brewery operation, packaging, and/or sales. Floridas breweries are vital to our economic success! As a Florida voter with interest in this industry I vow to hold those accountable for laws introduced and ultimately the outcome. Thank you for time, If you do NOTHING ELSE at least email them all the above that simple text or preferably your own variation. SPB 7120 was strategically placed at this point to BE right behind HB 1329 as they expected a lull in the calls/emails! All of Floridas small breweries need your help in fighting the little parts that make up for a very large puzzle! Thank you again for your signature on the petition against HB 1329! Lets FILL UP their inbox by tomorrow - If half of us that signed the petition email the Senate success will surely be the outcome! Barron Humphries Barron@Hoggetowne This message was sent by Barron Humphries using theChange.org system. You received this email because you signed a petition started by Barron Humphries onChange.org: Florida Business & Professional Regulation Subcommittee: As a Florida voter I urge you to vote against HB1329 and any future bills stifling Florida craft brewing economy. HB1329 clearly serves the interests of the distributors and not breweries. Change.org does not endorse contents of this message. View the petition Unsubscribe from updates about this petition
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 02:31:34 +0000
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