Bill Text: NJ SCR166 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress and President to enact H.R.747 and S.236 which make certain reforms to craft beverage industry.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-11-09 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [SCR166 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-SCR166-Introduced.html
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 166
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 9, 2017
Sponsored by:
Senator ROBERT M. GORDON
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress and President to enact H.R.747 and S.236 which make certain reforms to craft beverage industry.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution respectfully urges the United States Congress and the President of the United States to enact H.R.747 and S.236, the "Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2017."
Whereas, The "Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2017" reforms the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the tax structure for certain alcoholic beverages and provides non‐tax incentives affecting the beer, cider, wine, and distilled spirits industries; and
Whereas, The act would help to ensure the continued growth of America's craft beverage industries by reducing excise taxes, compliance burdens, and regulations for brewers, cider makers, vintners, and distillers and takes a tailored approach to promote job creation in each industry; and
Whereas, The act supports breweries by 1) reducing excise taxes for brewers to provide more cash flow to reinvest in growing their businesses, 2) simplifying beer formulation and label approvals by exempting common beer ingredients from the lengthy Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) approval process, and 3) increasing collaboration between brewers by removing restrictions on tax-free transfers of beer and repealing unnecessary inventory restrictions; and
Whereas, The act supports cider makers by conforming the tax treatment of cider to industry standards by relaxing restrictions on alcohol content, carbonation content, and expanding the list of allowable ingredients; and
Whereas, The act supports vintners by 1) expanding the wine producer tax credit to increase benefit, cover more wineries, and promote regional growth, and 2) establishing limited tolerances on alcohol content for certain wines for tax purposes; and
Whereas, The act supports distilleries by 1) establishing reduced excise taxes for craft distilleries to help small businesses get off the ground, and 2) repealing the prohibition on home hobby distilling, while maintaining certain safeguards; and
Whereas, The act reduces compliance and tax burdens for all producers by exempting 1) approximately 90 percent of producers from bi-weekly filing and burdensome bonding requirements, and 2) beverage producers from complex capitalization rules for aged products, and levels the playing field between American businesses and their international competitors; and
Whereas, The act improves excise tax enforcement and administration by expanding 1) the TTB programs' integrity funding to crack down on those who evade paying taxes while providing additional funding for TTB regulatory functions and label approvals, and 2) current TTB information sharing to all excise taxes administered by the United States Customs and Border Protection; and
Whereas, The alcoholic beverage industry, whose various parts form a growing United States manufacturing industry, is important to our national economy; and
Whereas, The act is supported by the Brewer's Association, Beer Institute, United States Association of Cider Makers, and American Craft Spirits Association; and
Whereas, Given the importance and potential impact of this measure on breweries, wineries, and distilleries in New Jersey, it is fitting and proper for the Legislature to urge the United States Congress and the President of the United States to enact H.R.747 and S.236; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):
1. The New Jersey Legislature respectfully urges the United States Congress and the President of the United States to enact H.R.747 and S.236, the "Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2017."
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the General Assembly, to the President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the House of Representatives, and each member of the United States Congress elected from New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This Concurrent Resolution urges the United States Congress and the President of the United States to enact H.R.747 and S.236, the "Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2017."
The act reforms the United States Internal Revenue Code with respect to the tax structure for certain alcoholic beverages and provides non‐tax incentives affecting the beer, cider, wine, and distilled spirits industries.
The act would help to ensure the continued growth of America's craft beverage industries by reducing excise taxes, compliance burdens, and regulations for brewers, cider makers, vintners, and distillers. The act takes a tailored approach to promote job creation in each industry.
Varieties of organizations support this legislation including, but not limited to, the Brewer's Association, Beer Institute, United States Association of Cider Makers, and American Craft Spirits Association.
