Legislature(2025 - 2026)BARNES 124
05/05/2025 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB182 | |
| HB173 | |
| HB149 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 182 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 173 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 54 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 149 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 182-ALCOHOL LICENSE: LIVE MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT
3:19:45 PM
CO-CHAIR HALL announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 182, "An Act relating to live music and
entertainment at breweries, wineries, and distilleries."
3:20:31 PM
CO-CHAIR HALL opened public testimony on HB 182.
3:21:01 PM
JOHN BLASCO, Chief Operating Officer/Part Owner, Anchorage
Distillery/Harbor Mountain Brewing, testified in support of HB
182. He stated that breweries are allowed four permits per year
for live entertainment. He explained that the events must occur
on the premises. He asserted that filing an application for
local law enforcement and the Alcohol & Marijuana Control Office
(AMCO) to approve an event on-premises was "redundant and
costly." He offered his support for HB 182.
3:22:18 PM
SKYE STEKOLL, Co-Owner, Forbidden Peak Brewery, testified in
support of HB 182. He asserted that HB 182 would remove an
additional barrier to breweries' four permitted events a year.
He stated that eliminating the process would save both time and
money and noted that they could pass that saved money along to
the artists. He opined that it seemed like an added burden for
everyone. He offered his support for HB 182.
3:23:06 PM
JOSH HEGNA, Co-Founder, Girdwood Brewing Company, testified in
support of HB 182. He described the permitting process, noting
that he fills out a form to send to local law enforcement and
AMCO, and pays $100 upon approval. He noted that sometimes
replies can take weeks. He asserted that the current process
places a burden on breweries and local law enforcement. He
stated that he has applied for six permits. He offered his
strong support for HB 182.
3:24:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE asked why breweries were permitted to
host only four events a year.
MR. HEGNA replied that constraint was a provision of previous
legislation Senate Bill 9 [passed during the Thirty-Second
Alaska State Legislature].
3:24:56 PM
CO-CHAIR HALL, after ascertaining that there was no one else who
wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 182.
3:25:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE referred to Section 7 of the proposed
legislation, noting that it was repealing the live music and
entertainment permit. She asked if that permit existed anywhere
else in Alaska Statute (AS).
3:25:52 PM
CAMERON EBERSOLD, Staff, Representative Ky Holland, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Holland, prime sponsor
of HB 182, replied that that section of statute is the entirety
of live music and entertainment permitting; it does not exist
anywhere else in statute.
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE asked if the permit being repealed was
needed for other events.
MR. EBERSOLD noted the section of statute in question contains a
variety of permit types. He explained that the permit process
was generally for a manufacturer to serve their products off-
site at a premise that is otherwise non-licensed. He further
explained that the permit related to HB 182 was specifically for
a licensed manufacturer to host an event on their premises.
3:27:15 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS opined that the existing statute is bureaucratic
and absurd.
3:27:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked why only four events and asked if
six events a year would be more appropriate.
MR. EBERSOLD offered his understanding that the number four was
settled on as a compromise with other spaces dedicated to live
music.
3:28:10 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS explained that the number four was important in
negotiations when
3:28:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK commented there is precedence for four
events. She stated that she would also support the buyback of
beverage dispensary licenses (BDLs) for a truly open market.
She offered her support for HB 182. She asserted that
additional duplicative paperwork was nonsensical.
3:29:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KY HOLLAND, Alaska State Legislature, gave
closing remarks as prime sponsor of HB 182. He thanked
committee members and noted that the proposed legislation was a
collaborative effort with a lot of community involvement.
3:30:08 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS moved to report HB 182 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
3:30:24 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER declared a potential conflict of interest
and stated that he does, on occasion, play music in bars and
breweries.
3:30:45 PM
CO-CHAIR HALL announced that there being no objection, HB 182
was reported out the Standing House Labor & Commerce Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB173 HL&C Amendment 1 5.5.2025.pdf |
HL&C 5/5/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 173 |