AB 344: Alcoholic beverages: beer price posting and marketing regulations: definitions. - California

10/06/25 - Chaptered → AB344 · 1 edit

MINOR

No substantive policy changes were made between these two versions of AB 344. The diff reflects a transition from an authenticated chaptered document format to a web-based bill text page, adding website navigation elements and metadata (such as vote type, appropriation status, and local program designation) while the actual statutory language remains identical.

TECHNICAL

The document was reformatted from an authenticated chaptered version to a web-based bill text page, adding site navigation elements, a digest key with metadata (Vote: MAJORITY, Appropriation: NO, Fiscal Committee: YES, Local Program: YES), and version history information. The statutory text of Section 25000.2 and Section 2 is unchanged.

03/06/25 - Amended Assembly → 05/12/25 - Amended Assembly · 4 edits · May 12, 2025

MODERATE

The May 12 amendment significantly expands the scope of AB 344 by adding a broader second definition of 'successor beer manufacturer' that removes the requirement to meet specific criteria (such as having manufacturing facilities or controlling distribution rights). It also adds a new definition of 'beer manufacturer' covering license holders, and modifies the trigger for compliance to explicitly require that rights were actually acquired before a wholesaler's distribution rights are cancelled. The net effect is that more entities will be subject to the obligation to compensate existing beer wholesalers when they acquire product rights.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition of 'beer manufacturer' covering any holder of a beer manufacturer's license, an out-of-state beer manufacturer's certificate, or a beer and wine importer's general license.

SCOPE

Added a second, broader definition of 'successor beer manufacturer' (paragraph 8) that covers any person who acquires the rights to manufacture, import, or distribute a product, without requiring them to meet the specific criteria (facilities, contract brewing, or distribution control) in paragraph 7. This substantially widens which entities are subject to the compensation requirements.

The bill's fiscal note was updated to state the bill expands the scope of entities subject to successor beer manufacturer requirements, confirming the broadening effect of the new definitions.

ELIGIBILITY

Subdivision (b)(1) was changed from 'Any successor beer manufacturer who cancels' to 'Any successor beer manufacturer that acquires the rights to manufacture, import, or distribute a product, and who cancels,' making explicit that actual acquisition of rights must occur before the compliance obligation is triggered.

05/12/25 - Amended Assembly → 09/04/25 - Enrolled · 3 edits · Sep 4, 2025

MINOR

The enrolled version of AB 344 removes a narrower, more restrictive definition of 'successor beer manufacturer' that required the person selling the product rights to meet specific criteria (such as having manufacturing facilities, engaging in contract brewing, or holding rights to control sale and distribution). Only the broader definition remains, which covers any person, licensed or unlicensed, who acquires rights to manufacture, import, or distribute a product. This broadens the scope of entities subject to beer wholesaler compensation requirements when distribution rights are cancelled.

DEFINITION

Removed an alternative definition of 'successor beer manufacturer' that limited coverage to cases where the seller met specific criteria: having facilities and equipment for commercial manufacture, engaging in contract brewing with rights to direct sale, or otherwise holding the right to control or direct commercial sale and distribution (including recipe, branding, or trademarks).

The previous version's digest indicated the bill would remove the definition of 'beer manufacturer' for purposes of these provisions. The enrolled version retains that definition (paragraph 3), so no removal was made.

SCOPE

The definition of 'successor beer manufacturer' now relies solely on the broader formulation: a beer manufacturer or any person (as defined by Section 23008), whether licensed or unlicensed, who acquires the rights to manufacture, import, or distribute a product. This removes the requirement that the seller must have been an active manufacturer or controller of the product.

01/29/25 - Introduced → 03/06/25 - Amended Assembly · 4 edits · Mar 6, 2025

MODERATE

AB 344 was amended to broaden the definition of 'successor beer manufacturer' by removing the requirement that the acquirer must be a licensed beer manufacturer, replacing it with 'any person.' At the same time, the amendment adds new criteria that the person from whom rights are acquired must meet (such as having manufacturing facilities or holding control over branding and recipes). The standalone definition of 'beer manufacturer' was also removed. These changes expand which entities are subject to the bill's compensation and arbitration requirements when beer distribution rights change hands.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded: more entities can now qualify as 'successor beer manufacturers' subject to compensation and arbitration requirements because the acquirer no longer needs to hold a specific beer license. However, a new limitation was added requiring the seller of the rights to meet minimum criteria related to actual manufacturing or distribution control.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'successor beer manufacturer' was changed from requiring the acquirer to be a 'beer manufacturer' (a license holder) to 'any person, as defined by Section 23008, whether licensed or unlicensed.' This broadens who is covered by the bill's requirements.

New criteria were added requiring that the person from whom the successor acquires rights must meet at least one of three conditions: (A) has facilities and equipment for commercial manufacture of the product, (B) engages in contract brewing and holds the right to direct sale and distribution, or (C) otherwise holds the right to control or direct commercial sale and distribution including recipe, branding, or trademarks.

The standalone definition of 'beer manufacturer' (subsection 3), which included holders of beer manufacturer's licenses, out-of-state beer manufacturer's certificates, and beer and wine importer's general licenses, was removed entirely.

SCOPE

Subsection (b)(1) was simplified to remove the separate condition that the successor must have 'acquired the rights to manufacture, import, or distribute a product,' leaving only the requirement that they cancel an existing beer wholesaler's distribution rights as the trigger for compliance.

09/04/25 - Enrolled → 10/06/25 - Chaptered · 2 edits · Oct 6, 2025

MINOR

This diff reflects the transition of AB 344 from its enrolled form to its chaptered (enacted) form. No substantive policy changes were made between the two versions. The only differences are formatting: removal of legislative tracking information (dates passed, clerk signatures, governor's receipt line), addition of the official chapter number (Chapter 360) and approval date (October 6, 2025), and reformatting of the text layout for the official enrolled statute.

TECHNICAL

Replaced legislative tracking headers (Assembly/Senate passage dates, clerk signatures, governor's receipt line) with the official chaptered format header: 'STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTHENTICATED ELECTRONIC LEGAL MATERIAL' and 'CHAPTER 360' with approval date of October 6, 2025.

Page numbering changed from 'AB 344' page headers to 'Ch. 360' page headers, with page numbers shifting from 96 to 95 due to the shorter header block.

Alcoholic beverages: beer price posting and marketing regulations: definitions.

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