KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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AB-1991 • 2026

Alcoholic beverages: market research study: taste testing.

Alcoholic beverages: market research study: taste testing.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Aguiar-Curry
Last action
2026-04-09
Official status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 22. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the conditions for conducting taste tests beyond mentioning that participants are encouraged to taste only enough product to form an opinion. The exact number of taste tests and participants allowed is also unspecified in the provided text.

Alcoholic Beverages: Taste Testing for Market Research

The bill allows licensed alcohol producers to conduct taste tests as part of market research studies, under certain conditions.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows winegrowers, beer manufacturers, distilled spirits makers, craft distillers, brandy makers, rectifiers, and wine rectifiers to provide tastes of their products for market research.
  • Requires that the taste testing is part of a genuine study measuring consumer opinions about the sensory qualities of alcoholic beverages.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Licensed alcohol producers who want to conduct market research through taste testing.
  • People participating in taste tests conducted by licensed alcohol producers.

Terms To Know

Licensee
A person or company that has a legal permit to sell alcoholic beverages.
Market Research Study
An investigation conducted by businesses to understand consumer preferences and behaviors.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how many taste tests can be conducted or the exact number of participants allowed.
  • It is unclear what penalties, if any, apply for violating the conditions set for taste testing.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-09 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 22. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. 2026-03-10 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on G.O.

  3. 2026-03-09 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on G.O. Read second time and amended.

  4. 2026-03-09 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on G.O.

  5. 2026-02-18 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 20.

  6. 2026-02-17 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1991, as amended,
Flora
Aguiar-Curry.
City council members: absences without permission.
Alcoholic beverages: market research study: taste testing.
Existing law, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which is administered by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, regulates the application for, and issuance and suspension of, alcoholic beverage licenses. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act prohibits a licensee from giving a premium, gift, or free goods in connection with the sale and distribution of any alcoholic beverage, except as provided.
This bill would authorize a licensed winegrower, licensed beer manufacturer, licensed distilled spirits manufacturer, licensed craft distiller, licensed brandy manufacturer, licensed rectifier, or licensed wine rectifier to furnish tastes of alcoholic
beverages as part of a bona fide market research study undertaken by or for the licensee for the sole purpose of measuring consumer perceptions with respect to the sensory characteristics of the alcoholic beverages. The bill would authorize the taste testing to be conducted in the state, subject to specified conditions, including that a taste testing participant is, among other things, encouraged to taste only enough alcoholic beverage product to formulate an opinion.
Existing law provides that if a city council member is absent without permission from all regular city council meetings for a specified number of days from the last regular meeting they attended, their office becomes vacant and shall be filled as any other vacancy.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to that provision.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF