A pair of bills that would have impacted breweries across the state was shot down during a committee meeting at the Legislature on Wednesday.
Members of the House Business and Labor Committee voted to table both HB 326 and HB 336, effectively killing the proposals instead of forwarding them to the House and Senate.
HB 326, dubbed the “Montana Brewers Act,” fell short of being recommended out of committee by a 9-10 vote. Similarly, HB 336, the “Pro Beer Act,” fell short by a narrow vote, 9-10.
Both bills were subsequently tabled, meaning they will sit dormant unless further action is taken, which rarely happens.
The decision to table HB 326 signaled a defeat for a coalition of industry representatives, including the state’s brewery and tavern associations, that was seeking to allow multiple license holders and increased barrel limits for breweries hoping to sell beer in a taproom.