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Current Issues

See the latest national and state-level government affairs issues including news and announcements from the Brewers Association and members of the House and Senate Small Brewers Caucus.

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Displaying results 1-10 of 78

Washington

Bill Introduced in Washington to Lower the Legal Limit for DUI Offenses

Brewers in Washington are facing a challenge to lower the blood alcohol content (BAC) level for DUI to .05% (S.B. 5067). Opposing these measures is delicate, but the data showing that the lion’s share of fatal vehicle crashes involve at …Read More

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State Government Affairs Director

Sam DeWitt works state government affairs for the Brewers Association, and has lobbied craft beer bills from the east coast to Hawaii, on a wide range of topics from franchise reform and excise tax to self-distribution and direct-to-consumer shipping of beer. He has a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism from the University of Montana and fell in love with craft brewing as an undergraduate in Missoula.

See Sam DeWitt's Articles

Washington

WA Recycling Responsibilities Bill Stalls

Stalling in the House, H.B. 2049 sought to require producers of certain paper products and packaging (covered PPP) to participate in and fund the operations of a producer responsibility organization (PRO) to collect and manage covered PPP from consumers and …Read More

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Pete Johnson served as the State & Regulatory Affairs Manager for the Brewers Association (BA) until 2024. He joined the BA at its inception in 2005, having previously worked as Programs Director for the Brewers Association of America. Before coming to the small brewing industry in 2001, Pete worked for 14 years with both state and federal elected officials in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

See Pete Johnson's Articles

Washington

Low-Proof Beverage Bill Stalls in WA

Failing to advance from the Senate, S.B. 5375 sought to define low-proof beverage to mean any beverage 16 ounces or less that contains more than 0.5 percent and less than 7 percent alcohol by volume, but does not include wine, …Read More

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Pete Johnson served as the State & Regulatory Affairs Manager for the Brewers Association (BA) until 2024. He joined the BA at its inception in 2005, having previously worked as Programs Director for the Brewers Association of America. Before coming to the small brewing industry in 2001, Pete worked for 14 years with both state and federal elected officials in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

See Pete Johnson's Articles

Washington

WA .05 BAC Legislation Fails to Advance

Failing to clear committee, Senate Bill 5002 sought to reduce the breath or blood alcohol concentration limit for operating a motor vehicle from 0.08 to 0.05. Read More

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Pete Johnson served as the State & Regulatory Affairs Manager for the Brewers Association (BA) until 2024. He joined the BA at its inception in 2005, having previously worked as Programs Director for the Brewers Association of America. Before coming to the small brewing industry in 2001, Pete worked for 14 years with both state and federal elected officials in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

See Pete Johnson's Articles

Washington

RTD Taxation Addressed in WA Bill

H.B. 2493 provides a definition for “ready-to-serve alcoholic beverages” and addresses the taxation of those products. Read More

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Pete Johnson served as the State & Regulatory Affairs Manager for the Brewers Association (BA) until 2024. He joined the BA at its inception in 2005, having previously worked as Programs Director for the Brewers Association of America. Before coming to the small brewing industry in 2001, Pete worked for 14 years with both state and federal elected officials in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

See Pete Johnson's Articles

Washington

.05 BAC Legislation Advances in WA

Now on second reading, Senate Bill 5002 seeks to reduce the breath or blood alcohol concentration limit for operating a motor vehicle from 0.08 to 0.05. Read More

Link to author biography

Pete Johnson served as the State & Regulatory Affairs Manager for the Brewers Association (BA) until 2024. He joined the BA at its inception in 2005, having previously worked as Programs Director for the Brewers Association of America. Before coming to the small brewing industry in 2001, Pete worked for 14 years with both state and federal elected officials in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

See Pete Johnson's Articles

Washington

WA Bill Provides for Recycling Responsibilities

H.B. 2049 requires producers of certain paper products and packaging (covered PPP) to participate in and fund the operations of a producer responsibility organization (PRO) to collect and manage covered PPP from consumers and carry out other specified activities and …Read More

Link to author biography

Pete Johnson served as the State & Regulatory Affairs Manager for the Brewers Association (BA) until 2024. He joined the BA at its inception in 2005, having previously worked as Programs Director for the Brewers Association of America. Before coming to the small brewing industry in 2001, Pete worked for 14 years with both state and federal elected officials in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

See Pete Johnson's Articles

Washington

.05 BAC Legislation Reintroduced in WA

Reintroduced from the previous session, Senate Bill 5002 seeks to reduce the breath or blood alcohol concentration limit for operating a motor vehicle from 0.08 to 0.05. Read More

Link to author biography

Pete Johnson served as the State & Regulatory Affairs Manager for the Brewers Association (BA) until 2024. He joined the BA at its inception in 2005, having previously worked as Programs Director for the Brewers Association of America. Before coming to the small brewing industry in 2001, Pete worked for 14 years with both state and federal elected officials in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

See Pete Johnson's Articles

Washington

Canned Cocktail Tax Break Bill Intro’d in WA

S.B. 5375 defines low-proof beverage to mean any beverage 16 ounces or less that contains more than 0.5 percent and less than 7 percent alcohol by volume, but does not include wine, malt beverages, or malt liquor and imposes a …Read More

Link to author biography

Pete Johnson served as the State & Regulatory Affairs Manager for the Brewers Association (BA) until 2024. He joined the BA at its inception in 2005, having previously worked as Programs Director for the Brewers Association of America. Before coming to the small brewing industry in 2001, Pete worked for 14 years with both state and federal elected officials in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

See Pete Johnson's Articles

Washington

WA Recycling Proposal Under Consideration Again

Reemerging from the 2023 session, H.B. 1131 requires producers of certain paper products and packaging (covered PPP) to participate in and fund the operations of a producer responsibility organization (PRO) to collect and manage covered PPP from consumers and carry …Read More

Link to author biography

Pete Johnson served as the State & Regulatory Affairs Manager for the Brewers Association (BA) until 2024. He joined the BA at its inception in 2005, having previously worked as Programs Director for the Brewers Association of America. Before coming to the small brewing industry in 2001, Pete worked for 14 years with both state and federal elected officials in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

See Pete Johnson's Articles
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