SF 122 – Electronic access by public improvement contract bidders
SF 123 – Powdered, crystalline alcohol ban
SF 124 – Wine gallonage reports
SF 125 – ABD omnibus
COMMITTEE ACTION:
SF 122/SSB 1036 addresses electronic access to documents during the competitive bidding process for public improvement contracts. It prohibits governmental entities from charging a fee for electronic and digital copies of project contract documents relating to public improvements. [1/29: short form]
SF 123/SSB 1031 is a recommendation by the Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) of the Iowa Department of Commerce to ban the sale of powdered or crystalline alcohol products in the state.
Powdered or crystalline alcohol products are made by freeze-drying and pulverizing liquid alcohol, packaging it in a sealed pouch, and making it easier to transport than traditional bottled alcohol. The makers of powdered alcohol claim the product is intended for those with active lifestyles, such as hikers or backpackers. Opponents say the product is dangerous and poses an unnecessary risk to public health due to improper mixing, use as an additive to other alcoholic beverages or food items, and nasal ingestion (snorting).
The portability makes it more appealing and accessible to underage users, and children who may think it is candy. The bill adds these types of products in the definition of liquor that is regulated by the ABD, and prohibits liquor licensees from selling or possessing alcohol in powder or crystal form in Iowa, if the federal Tobacco, Tax & Trade Bureau approves the product in the future.
Last April, the Tobacco, Tax & Trade Bureau approved a powdered form of alcoholic liquor for sale in the United States, but quickly rescinded the ruling stating that the decision was made in error. Iowa is one of 17 states taking legislative action to prohibit the products. Four states already have the ban in place. [1/29: short form]
SF 124/SSB 1034, a recommendation of the Alcoholic Beverages Division, makes technical changes for the wine gallonage tax reporting and remitting by wineries that are licensed to sell and ship directly to consumers in Iowa. This legislation does not eliminate the reporting requirement or the tax obligation on these sales, but establishes a new semi-annual filing frequency for Wine Direct Shipper License holders to report and remit wine gallonage taxes. This creates a more business-friendly reporting process for wineries that ship directly to Iowans, and reduces the state’s cost in processing the reports. [1/29: short form]
SF 125/SSB 1033 is the Alcoholic Beverages Division’s non-substantive “clean-up” bill. It improves readability by establishing consistent wording and streamlines language to reflect the current practices of the Division. The legislation:
- Changes the words used to describe a free product that is given to individuals after a tour of a micro-distillery or winery to be consistent with the Division’s administrative rules and with federal regulations (i.e., from “sampling” to “tasting”).
- Clarifies that brandy obtained by native wineries for use as an ingredient is not subject to the mandatory mark-up that is applied to alcoholic liquor sold by the Division.
- Updates various Code sections related to the manufacture, wholesale sale and retail sale of high-alcoholic-content beer that were changed by previous legislation.
- Strikes obsolete language related to the wholesale and retail sale of wine. [1/29: short form]