The Senate Commerce and Tourism committee took up the state’s growler ban Monday. Measures doing away with the state’s restriction continue to march forward in both chambers of the Legislature.
After years of trying, lawmakers seem primed to repeal Florida’s ban on 64-ounce refillable bottles of beer known as growlers. Sen. Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater) is carrying the bill in the Senate again this year, and has strong allies backing his efforts. It’s the same story in the House. Freshman Rep. Chris Sprowls (R-Palm Harbor) is sponsoring the measure. Majority Leader Dana Young (R-Tampa), who handled it in the past two sessions, is optimistic it will pass.
“I would not be surprised at all if they passed that bill out of the Senate fairly soon and sent it to the House,” Young says. “You know it could just be a very orderly passage of that bill.”
Young spoke last week at the first meeting of her informal Brewing Liberty Caucus. The Senate bill contains additional provisions that would simplify licensing and tastings. Young supports the additions but the House version hasn’t been amended yet to match. Commerce and Tourism approved the measure without objection.
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