STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1744-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2354

S.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2354, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Expand the definition of "beer" to include any alcoholic beverage containing not less than 0.5 percent alcohol by volume obtained by fermentation of any infusion or decoction of malt or any substitute, including alcohol seltzer beverages, but excluding sake, cooler beverages, or other distilled products; and

(2) Permit brewpubs to sell beer manufactured by the brewpub, or beer manufactured on their premises, under certain conditions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Kona Brewing Hawaii. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaiʻi Alcohol Policy Alliance. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Cares.

Your Committee finds that the existing statutory definition of "beer" follows the traditional basic ingredients used in historical beer manufacturing. However, this definition does not adequately reflect the expansion of the craft beer manufacturing sector and is not in alignment with the federal definition. This measure will alleviate these inconsistencies.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2354, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair