The 2023 General Assembly Session has wrapped up the second week of its "short" 45-day session.

Overall it was a very good week for bills that could impact the Three-Tier system - a key one was defeated and another, to allow for limited distribution by breweries, is moving accordingly. Listed below are highlights of those bills of interest to our industry. Should you want more details, you can go directly to the bill summary, history, and text by clicking the bill number.

The 2023 General Assembly Session gaveled in this week on Wednesday, January 11, for a "short" 46 day session...

As we reach the end of an eventful General Assembly session, I am proud of the work our Board and members have done to promote our industry’s interests at the Capitol. Your efforts and support helped us play a part in promoting some bills, making the case for more study for others, and playing a role in defeating legislation that would have harmed our members and run counter to the Three Tier System ...

We are pleased to report another successful session for Beer Distributors, which we could not have done without the active participation of so many of you. To everyone that showed up in Richmond, did a warehouse tour before session, contacted their legislators, answered questions from VBWA staff about how a bill could impact your business or otherwise supported our efforts, thank you!  You are the secret to our continued success.

Last week was another busy one for committee action as the House and Senate worked to complete their dockets before today (March 7), the final day to advance a bill for consideration by the full body. The focus after today will be on the budget bill and final floor actions on legislation.

Below are highlights of some of the bills that the VBWA team is following. Bills that were listed on previous reports, but since defeated or amended to where they no longer impact beer distributors are not listed.

In the remaining two weeks of the General Assembly Session the focus is on the all-important budget bill, the master document that governs all state spending. The House and Senate released competing versions with major differences on tax cuts and spending. And as noted below regarding DOLI, the budget is important for reasons not all related to funding as the language included affects many policies and governing laws in the Commonwealth. The Senate and House budget conferees must create a compromise budget before the body can adjorn Sine Die.

Of the 2,574 bills introduced in the 2022 General Assembly Session, 1,106 are dead following last Tuesday's "Crossover" day deadline, when bills must have advanced to the other Chamber. The bills still in play are currently betting vetted by the non-originating body, and if approved, will advance to Governor Youngkin for his approval into law, amendments or veto.

This week has been another busy one for committee action as the House and Senate work to complete their dockets before Tuesday, February 15, or the critical "Crossover" deadline. "Crossover" is the last day of the Session where, excluding the budget, a bill can be considered within the chamber of origination.

It was another busy week of committee and subcommittee action as the House of Delegates and Senate strive to complete their work before "Crossover Day" on Tuesday, February 15, when bills must advance to the other Chamber or die in committee.

As usual during Session, we are meeting weekly with the VBWA Board of Directors to review bills and receive advice on strategy to determine VBWA's adopted positions. Listed below are highlights of those of interest introduced to-date. Should you want more details, you can go directly to the bill summary, bill history and bill text by clicking the bill number below.

The 2022 Virginia General Assembly is well underway, and as usual, the VBWA legislative team is advocating both for and against bills that touch the Three-Tier System. Last week, we held our virtual legislative conference with the VBWA Board and briefed them on our progress.

This year, lawmakers are considering over 2,400 pieces of introduced legislation, and a handful touch on issues related to beer, wine, and spirit distribution. There are two weeks until "Crossover Day" on Tuesday, February 15, when all legislation must advance to the other Chamber, or find itself dead by default.