The AHA is currently working with homebrewers in AL, MS, and OK on homebrew legalization in 2010, check out my blog post on www.HomebrewersAssociation.org for more information.
For the latest update on Government Affairs issues in the beer world, see the Brewers Association’s January Government Affairs update at Current Issues - Brewers Association.
Gary Glass
Director
American Homebrewers Association
Thanks for the update, Gary.
Go team! If the legislators aren’t going to fix the budget, at least they can work on protecting our freedom to homebrew (better than here in CA where they are looking for more things to outlaw like skiing without helmets).
Bills to legalize homebrewing in the State of Mississippi have been introduced. They have both been referred to Committee. Now is the time to contact your Representatives and Senators concerning the Bills. Legalizing homebrewing in Mississippi has a real shot at passing with everyone’s help.
The Bills have been introduced by Senator Baria (SB 2717) and Representative Moak (HB 732). The contact info of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committees that the bills have been referred to are listed below. Written letter and phone calls are more persuasive than emails.
House Bill 732 has been Referred to the Ways and Means Committee:
Chair:
Percy W. Watson
P. O. Box 1018
Jackson, MS 39215
(601)544-6490 (H)
(601)545-1051 (W)
pwatson@house.ms.gov
Vice Chair:
David Norquist
P. O. Box 1018
Jackson, MS 39215
(662)843-9183 (H)
(662)843-6171 (W)
dnorquist@house.ms.gov
Senate Bill SB 2717 has been referred to the Finance Committee.
Chair:
Dean Kirby
Room: 215 C
P. O. Box 1018
Jackson, MS 39215
(601)359-3246
(601)932-1966 (H)
(601)939-5968 (W)
dkirby@senate.ms.gov
Vice Chair:
Eugene Clarke
Room: 405 D
P. O. Box 1018
Jackson, MS 39215
(601)359-3172
(662)827-7261 (W)
(662)827-7264 (F)
bclarke@senate.ms.gov
Of course, talking with any of the member on either Committee would be helpful, especially if they are Representatives or Senators from your area. In addition,
contacting your local Representatives and Senators and letting them know
where you stand will help when the Bills come out of Committee. Please be polite and professional.
Here is a link to find your local officials:
http://www.capitolconnect.com/demoassoc1/legislatorsearch.aspx
This is time sensitive - we need to get the word out fast and clear.
deepsouth provides some great info on how to lobby your legislator. And BTW, when a constituent contacts them, it does make a difference. When many do, it has an impact.
When I served in the Wisconsin legislature I kept track of who was contacting me on what issue. People living in my district would often get a telephone call from me to discuss the issue. Understand something…legislators do not hear from tons of people so when they do, ears perk up.
Whatever you do though, I would caution you about mentioning anything about how you voted for them, or, that you would do so if they supported your issue. Threats never worked for me one way or the other.
Good luck. I know how difficult it is to change the law regarding alcohol. There are so many deep rooted special interest groups out there that want to protect what they have.
We have recently sent Action Alerts to the AHA Members in Mississippi and Oklahoma with instructions on how homebrewers can help get the homebrew bills in those states passed. Given that not every homebrewer in those states is an AHA member you can help the cause, by forwarding the appropriate link below to anyone you know in those states who would be sympathetic to our cause.
Mississippi: http://www.beertown.org/email/sylb/MSJan_10.htm
Oklahoma: http://www.beertown.org/email/sylb/OKJan_10.htm
Hopefully, we’ll have an Alert to send to Alabama residents soon. Waiting on a vote in the Senate Tourism & Marketing Committee now - the same bill has passed this committee in previous years, so we’re really more concerned with promoting the bill after it clears committee.
Cheers!
Is anything happening with legalizing shipping of homebrew? It sure would knock the edge off any worries.
Yes, we’re working on it and it’s getting closer all the time. Gary gave the GC an update recently, but couldn’t say too much and I can tell you even less. But I assure you it’s a priority for us and we have some good people working with us on it. Keep in mind, though, that when you’re dealing with the federal gov’t., things don’t happen quickly.
It will be Sweet when we can ship via the US Post Office! I have to drive 20 miles to the nearest UPS store now and FedEx is another 10 miles further… the post office is just a little over a mile away. :) And then there are the flat rate boxes… could possibly ship close to a 12 pack maybe for the price we’re already paying! ;D
When I shipped a water sample recently, the post office clerk told me the only thing they cared about was that a liquid would be contained if the primary container leaked, so I put the plastic soda bottle inside a foodsaver bag and vacuum sealed it… they were happy with it. 
update:
all bills died in committee in MIssissippi.
AAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!
Politics vs. common sense. Oy.
Good news in Oklahoma: HB 2348 was passed today by the Oklahoma House Economic Development and Financial Services Committee by a margin of 12-1. Now we wait for it to be scheduled for a vote before the full House.
Looks like the Senate log jam in Alabama may be clearing, hopefully that will result in the Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee voting on the Alabama homebrew bill (they passed it last year).
Mississippi: Big bummer. As I understand it, a single Senator managed to kill pretty much all of the alcohol bills, including homebrew legalization and increasing allowable alcohol in beer sold in the state, by blocking them from getting through his committee.
I’m cautiously optimistic that we will get some movement on a homebrew shipping bill this session. It seems to be headed in the right direction at the moment.
If the Senator from Mississippi that killed the bill is known posting his name would be helpful for Mississippi residents. Just in case they want to factor that in next time they head to the polls.
Would you really not vote for a person based solely on their voting record related to alcohol bills?
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Nope. But if I was roughly 50/50 between two candidates it would be something to consider.
Just a quick thanks to Gary and the AHA and all those involved. And Thanks for the update.
We’re very excited in Oklahoma to win the first round. The only negative part of HB2348 is that it looks to put a stop to internet sales & shipping of alcohol into the state. >:(
Thanks for the updates, Gary.
Ahh, the law, she gives and she taketh away…
The sales and shipping bit I assume kills all alcohol including wine? Might be a response to the decision a few years back that you couldn’t ban everything but wine.
