Plain English Breakdown
The official text does not provide an effective date for the bill.
Changes to Beer Rules and Payment Terms
This law updates the definition of beer, shortens the time before late fees start on unpaid bills for alcohol sales, and clarifies rules for electronic payments between sellers.
What This Bill Does
- Updates the legal definition of 'beer' to allow production using grains other than barley or malt.
- Specifies that fermentation must happen in drinkable water when making beer.
- Shortens the time before late fees start from 42 days after delivery to 30 days after delivery for specified licensees selling alcoholic beverages.
- Requires a charge of 1% on unpaid balances starting at day 31, plus another 1% for every following month.
- Clarifies rules for electronic payments by defining key terms like 'initiate' and 'equitable manner'.
- Sets specific options for choosing payment processors based on accounts or services held as of July 1, 2025.
Who It Names or Affects
- Breweries that produce beer using different types of grain.
- Licensees who sell and deliver alcoholic beverages to retailers.
- Retailers who buy alcohol from wholesalers and make electronic transfers.
- Local agencies responsible for enforcing the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.
Terms To Know
- Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
- A digital method to move money between bank accounts without using cash or checks, required for certain alcohol sales payments.
- Wholesaler
- A licensed business that sells alcoholic beverages in large amounts to retailers and must initiate electronic transfers under this law.
- Retailer
- A store, bar, or restaurant with a license that buys alcohol from wholesalers and pays via electronic transfer.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not state the specific date when these new rules will officially begin.
- The text notes the law expands an existing crime but does not list all details of those penalties.
- The bill states no reimbursement is required for local costs, but it lists only 'a specified reason' without explaining what that reason is.