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.