NEVADA UPDATE

[Jerry D Mead]

SB428, the Nevada personal importation bill, which would permit up to 12 cases per person, is a step closer to becoming law. Don't want to count chickens prior to hatching or any of that, but bill received unanimous support in Senate Commerce committee (save for one abstention) and appears to be passing in Assembly Taxation Committee, where all the questions were friendly toward the bill and the lobbiest who could have gummed up the works...didn't.

If Senator Mike Schneider's (D-Las Vegas) bill passes, Nevada will have the model personal importation law for other states to adopt...it collects excise taxes from suppliers (good for the state), but without large fees, tariffs or licenses to either consumers or suppliers (good for both). Wholesalers will be protected in that importation is for "personal consumption only," so retailers and restaurants must still buy through 3-tier...and if supplier sells more than 25 cases per annum in state, must be willing to appoint wholesaler.

It seems everyone's interests are looked after.

The Wine Curmudgeon