Sometimes there are unintended consequences to legislation that people hadn’t counted on, but one that impact rules for tasting rooms across Michigan has been fixed thanks to State Senator Kim LaSata, and the only thing that awaits implementation is the signature of Governor Whitmer.
LaSata’s legislation that would fix an unintended consequence of tasting room legislation that had been signed during the last session was finalized this week and is on its way to the governor’s desk.
LaSata tells us, “My bill makes an important change to legislation we approved last session to ensure that our local producers of wine, beer, and other spirits may sample and sell all of their offerings at the same location,” and adds, “This bill will support small businesses and help create jobs at a time when they could really use it.”
Senate Bill 897, sponsored by LaSata, would reform the law to allow wineries, breweries and distilleries to operate both an on-premise tasting room and an off-premise tasting room at the same location, under certain conditions.
Another bill sponsored by LaSata that was also finalized this week would simplify the special event permitting process required to allow the Senior PGA to host the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor every other year.
Currently, state law must be amended every year there is a Senior PGA event to allow a special event permit for that specific championship. SB 820 would allow a permit for any year — meaning a bill wouldn’t need to be passed and signed each year the tournament is played in Michigan.
The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores is scheduled to return in 2022 and again in 2024 under the current contract with the PGA of America.
Both bills now await the governor’s signature in Lansing.
