HB 5361 Connecticut House · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING THE SOURCE OF THE FRUIT USED BY FARM WINERY PERMITTEES TO MANUFACTURE WINE.

HB 5361 requires farm wineries in the state to source at least 20% of the fruit used for wine production from their own premises or land under their control. This rule applies directly to farm winery permittees who manufacture wine, replacing previous requirements with a specific percentage-based sourcing standard. The bill mandates that this 20% average must be calculated from the farm winery's two largest annual fruit crops over the past five years (or three tons of grapes per acre for the first seven years of operation). It does not change existing rules about wine sales, shipping, or tax obligations, focusing solely on the origin of the fruit used in production.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Mar 27, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Proposed Bill → Committee Bill · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from a proposed version to a committee version, changing the bill number and committee reference. The core policy regarding farm winery requirements remains largely intact, though the fruit sourcing requirement was modified from a fixed 20% to a more flexible calculation based on average crop yields over five years, with an exception for new permits during their first seven years. A new provision was added allowing farm wineries to sell wine from other Connecticut farm wineries under specific conditions.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on regulating farm wineries in Connecticut, but the fruit sourcing requirement became more flexible and the scope of permitted sales activities was expanded.

REQUIREMENT

The 20% fruit sourcing requirement was changed from a fixed percentage to a calculation based on average crop yields over the five largest annual crops, with a seven-year grace period for new permits.

New provisions allow farm wineries to sell wine manufactured by other Connecticut farm wineries and brandy distilled off-premises from Connecticut fruit.

Added requirements for shipping labels, age verification, and reporting to state agencies for direct-to-consumer wine shipments.

TECHNICAL

Bill number changed from 5361 (Proposed) to 5361 (Committee) with updated LCO number from 1768 to 4613.

DEFINITION

Added detailed definitions for farm winery permit scope, including specific authorized activities like bulk sales, tasting, and direct-to-consumer shipping.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Joint Favorable

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON General Law

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

DRAFTED BY COMMITTEE

lower

Jan 16, 2025

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON General Law

lower

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors