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AB-2211 • 2026

Craft distilled spirits manufacturers: licenses and fees.

Craft distilled spirits manufacturers: licenses and fees.

Crime Education
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Hoover
Last action
2026-04-23
Official status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 22. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms or exceptions to fees.

Craft Distilled Spirits Licenses and Fees

AB-2211 sets fees for duplicate craft distilled spirits licenses, limits tasting locations to two premises, and specifies no state reimbursement is required.

What This Bill Does

  • Sets a fee of $755 for a duplicate license for craft distillers.
  • Limits craft distillers to selling or hosting tastings at two licensed branch premises.
  • Includes any branch location with a duplicate license in the definition of 'licensed premises'.
  • Requires all fees collected from these provisions to go into the Alcohol Beverage Control Fund.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Craft distilled spirits manufacturers and their branch locations.
  • The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Terms To Know

Licensed premises
A location where a craft distiller can sell or host tastings, including any branch with a duplicate license.
State-mandated local program
A state requirement that may cause additional costs for local agencies and school districts.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control will enforce these new rules.
  • It is unclear if there are any exceptions to the $755 fee for duplicate licenses.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 22. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. 2026-03-09 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on G.O.

  3. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.

  4. 2026-02-19 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2211, as introduced, Hoover.
Craft distilled spirits manufacturers: licenses and fees.
Existing law, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, administered by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, regulates the application, issuance, and suspension of alcoholic beverage licenses. Existing law establishes the types of licenses and the annual fees to be charged therefor and specifies that for a craft distilled spirits manufacturer, the fee is $755. Existing law provides that all money collected as fees pursuant to the act as payments under these provisions are deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Alcohol Beverage Control Fund. Existing law provides that a violation of the act or a regulation adopted pursuant to the act is a crime.
This bill would also specify a fee of $755 for a duplicate craft distilled spirits manufacturer license.
Under existing law, a distilled spirits
manufacturer’s license or a craft distiller’s license authorizes the licensee to conduct tastings of distilled spirits produced or bottled by, or produced or bottled for, the licensee, on or off the licensee’s premises, subject to specified conditions. Existing law authorizes a licensed craft distiller to sell up to a specified volume, in any combination of prepackaged containers, per day, per consumer of distilled spirits manufactured or produced by the licensee at its premises to a consumer.
This bill would prohibit a craft distiller from selling distilled spirits to consumers or engaging in tasting activities at more than two licensed branch premises. The bill would include in the definition of “licensed premises” for this purpose, and for purposes of the authorizations described above, any branch premises located away from the licensed craft distiller’s place of production and manufacturer for which a duplicate license has been issued by the department. Because
the bill would expand the definition of an existing crime, it would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Download Bill PDF