SB 2225 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the manufacture, distribution, sale, and taxation of ready-to-drink spirit beverages.

SB 2225 defines "spirit coolers" as ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages containing less than 17% alcohol by volume, made from distilled spirits mixed with water or juice. It creates a new "spirit cooler certificate" allowing specific businesses - wine-only package stores, wine/malt beverage retailers, or retail dealers - to sell these products. Certificate holders may purchase spirit coolers from wholesalers and sell them retail for off-premise consumption (or on-premise for some licenses), but not for resale. The bill applies only in areas where alcohol sales are legally permitted via local ballot measures.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 11, 2025 Last action May 2, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 6 edits · Apr 30, 2025

MODERATE

This bill replaces the term 'spirit cooler' with 'ready-to-drink spirit beverage' throughout the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code to align with modern terminology and improve clarity. It establishes new definitions for these beverages, creates a new certificate for retailers to sell them, and updates various permit types to explicitly authorize the manufacture, sale, and distribution of ready-to-drink spirit beverages alongside traditional malt beverages and wines.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the Alcoholic Beverage Code to include ready-to-drink spirit beverages as a distinct category of alcoholic beverage, treating them similarly to malt beverages in many regulatory contexts while maintaining specific rules for their production and sale.

DEFINITION

Replaced the term 'spirit cooler' with 'ready-to-drink spirit beverage' in multiple sections to standardize terminology across the code.

Created new definitions for 'ready-to-drink spirit beverage' specifying it must contain distilled spirits, nonalcoholic beverages, and have an alcohol content of 10% or less in containers not exceeding 3.75 liters.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new 'spirit cooler certificate' (now for ready-to-drink spirit beverages) that allows specific permit holders to purchase and sell these beverages at retail.

REQUIREMENT

Updated various permit types (distiller's, wholesaler's, retailer's, distributor's) to explicitly authorize the manufacture, sale, purchase, and distribution of ready-to-drink spirit beverages.

Added new sections requiring registration and approval before shipping ready-to-drink spirit beverages within the state, similar to requirements for distilled spirits.

ENFORCEMENT

Updated prohibited activities and reporting requirements to include ready-to-drink spirit beverages alongside liquor and malt beverages.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 30, 2025

How they voted

24–6

Passed

Total votes 30

Apr 30, 2025

D Democratic10

6 Yea 4 Nay

60% Yea

R Republican20

18 Yea 2 Nay

90% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 2, 2025

Committee

Referred to Licensing & Administrative Procedures

lower

May 2, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

May 1, 2025

Introduced

Received from the Senate

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Apr 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed to engrossment as amended

upper

Apr 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amendment adopted as amended

upper

Apr 30, 2025

Amended

Amendment amended

upper

Apr 30, 2025

Introduced

Amendment to amendment offered

upper

Apr 30, 2025

Introduced

Amendment(s) offered

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendments

upper

Apr 16, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

Apr 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Left pending in committee

upper

Apr 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Committee

Referred to State Affairs

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors