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HB 6854 Connecticut House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER PROTECTION'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR REGULATION.

This bill revises Connecticut's alcohol regulations by redefining "case price" (specifying exact bottle counts for different sizes, like six 1.75L bottles per case) and updating permit rules to require annual renewal for most businesses, with limited exceptions for 6-month permits. It also clarifies farm winery permits, allowing direct shipping of wine to Connecticut consumers (with a 15-gallon container limit) and expanding on retail sales options at farm premises. These changes directly affect alcohol retailers, manufacturers, and farm wineries by altering packaging standards, permit terms, and direct sales capabilities. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Signed Jun 10, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → GL Joint Favorable Substitute · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was revised from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'GL Joint Favorable Substitute' version, removing extensive cannabis-related definitions and replacing them with detailed regulations for farm wineries. The changes focus on clarifying permit rules for wine manufacturers, including sales limits, shipping requirements, and tax obligations for direct-to-consumer wine sales.
Scope change
The bill's scope shifted from including cannabis and infused beverage regulations to focusing primarily on farm winery permits and wine production regulations.
SCOPE

Removed all definitions related to cannabis, infused beverages, hemp, and related products that were present in the original raised bill.

REQUIREMENT

Added detailed rules for farm winery permits, including specific authorizations for bulk sales, retail sales, tasting, and shipping wine directly to consumers.

Established new shipping requirements for direct-to-consumer wine sales, including age verification signatures, labeling requirements, and limits on shipment quantities.

Added tax obligations requiring farm wineries to pay sales and alcoholic beverage taxes to the Department of Revenue Services on direct consumer sales.

Added restrictions allowing towns to prohibit farm winery tasting or retail sales through local ordinances or zoning regulations.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified permit eligibility rules to allow permits to be issued for up to six consecutive months at reduced fees, with restrictions on fee rebates for revoked permits.

Floor votes · Senate May 30, 2025 · House May 28, 2025

How they voted

36–0
Passed
Total votes 36
May 30, 2025
D Democratic25
25 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican11
11 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
6
Committee
2
Amendments
2
Jun 10, 2025
Signed into law
SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
lower
May 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
SEN. PASSED, HO. AMEND. SCH. A
upper
May 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
SEN. ADOPTED HO. AMEND. SCH. A
upper
May 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
HOUSE PASSED, HOUSE AMEND. SCH. A
lower
May 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
HOUSE ADOPTED HOUSE AMEND. SCH. A
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON General Law
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.