HB 499 Florida House · 2025 Regular Session

Malt Beverages

Summary

Malt Beverages; Authorizes certain manufacturers to sell malt beverages to vendors; authorizes manufacturer to terminate, cancel, nonrenew, or discontinue certain contracts under certain conditions; provides that such termination, cancellation, nonrenewal, or discontinuance is not violation of unlawful acts & practices provisions; authorizes Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco to determine manufacturer’s yearly production amount, upon manufacturer’s request; provides that certain information is prima facie evidence.

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Last action Jun 16, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

H 499 Filed → H 499 c1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill fundamentally changes Florida's approach to small craft breweries by removing the requirement for them to sell through distributors and allowing them to sell directly to vendors. It also adds new protections for small manufacturers (under 31,000 gallons annually) to terminate franchise agreements with distributors under specific conditions.

Scope change

The bill significantly expands the scope of who can sell malt beverages directly, moving away from the previous model that required most manufacturers to use distributors.

ELIGIBILITY

New eligibility for small manufacturers (producing less than 31,000 gallons annually) to sell and deliver malt beverages directly to vendors without using a distributor.

REQUIREMENT

New protections allowing small manufacturers to terminate, cancel, or discontinue franchise agreements with distributors under specific conditions, including a 24-38 month notice period.

DEFINITION

Amended section 561.221 to clarify transfer rules between manufacturers and licensed facilities, with specific provisions for malt beverages owned but brewed by another manufacturer.

TIMELINE

New provisions apply to franchise agreements entered into on or after July 1, 2025, with the act taking effect on that date.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Commerce Committee

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of State Administration Budget Subcommittee

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable by State Administration Budget Subcommittee

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

Added to State Administration Budget Subcommittee agenda

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in State Administration Budget Subcommittee

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to Commerce Committee

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to State Administration Budget Subcommittee

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with CS by Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee

lower

Mar 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

PCS added to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee agenda

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Committee

Referred to Commerce Committee

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Committee

Referred to State Administration Budget Subcommittee

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Committee

Referred to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee

lower

2 primary · 5 co-sponsors