2025

HB 1315/SB 5067: Lowering the BAC from .08 to .05 (defeated)

We are pleased to report that due to our strong advocacy on behalf of our WA Wine Institute members opposing the bill alongside the WA Hospitality Association, WA Brewers Guild and other stakeholders opposed to the policy, the bill failed to receive enough support to pass off the Senate floor for a third year in a row. We continue to be vocal that the Legislature should focus on how to combat high BAC drivers and repeat DUI offenders instead of considering an approach that will not help make our roads safer but instead punish responsible consumers and result in extreme economic damage to our state’s wineries, restaurants, brewers, distillers, and more. We will continue to ask the Legislature to work with us towards solutions that make a meaningful impact.

As we expect a .05 BAC bill to be considered during the 2026 session, WWI humbly asks all Washington wineries for their support by joining WWI as we continue to get stronger and better equipped to push back as your statewide trade lobbying Association. We also want to thank our members for their support and engagement with our work, and humbly ask for their continued support and to encourage their network of wineries to join WWI so we can plan on what we need to best represent our members next session on this and all difficult legislative proposals impacting wineries. For any questions or support with membership needs, including dues, contact our Membership and Programs Manager Marie Schurk at marie@wwi.wine.

HB 2079: Wine Excise Tax Increase (defeated)

This bill came in very late to session as a proposal to raise revenue by increasing wine and beer excise tax rates, and we immediately went to work to kill this bill as quickly as possible. The bill did not receive a hearing, and we are happy to report was not seriously considered. A big “Thank You!” to all wineries and grape growers who responded to our call to action to contact your elected officials and ask them to oppose the bill. Your help made a difference!

SB 5492: Working Towards a Sustainable Tourism Marketing Funding Model (passed)

This bill establishes an advisory committee tasked with creating and bringing to the legislature an industry-driven assessment model that creates a long-term sustainable statewide tourism marketing budget that is not beholden to the state taking those dollars during budgeting challenges. Once in place, we are hopeful Washington State will have a tourism marketing effort that can finally compete with other states to draw tourists to WA (and WA wine country) from around the country and world.

HB 1515: Outdoor Events with Alcohol Service (passed)

This bill creates new allowances for outdoor events with alcohol and World Cup 2026 large scale events with alcohol. Within approved cities and counties, LCB can allow multiple licensees (wineries included) to host shared events with outdoor alcohol service. The bill also allows the few cities with big enough outdoor public event spaces to host large-scale outdoor events with alcohol (think watch parties for World Cup 2026). We will begin working with the LCB on a breakdown of how wineries can use this new license to do shared public events. Expires in 2027, and we will try to remove that expiration date in future sessions. We are hopeful this new set of allowances will turn into a big win for our wineries and hospitality industry.

SB 5284: Extended Producer Responsibility (passed)

WWI opposed this bill because it contains no clear understanding of cost and what type of recycling and solid waste reduction system the state plans to create. This new policy is not worth the cost to businesses that will be forced to pay for these programs. A positive part of the final version of the bill creates a bottle deposit program study to determine if this is the most effective way for beverage containers to be recycled in our state. Many WA wineries are likely to be exempt due to a de minimis definition included in the bill that exempts businesses that have $5 million or less in gross sales not including on premise alcohol sales.

SB 5368: Studying Alcohol Taxes and Fees (defeated)

WWI opposed this bill. Large corporate distributors and distillers introduced this bill to try and lower their state excise tax while keeping alcohol excise tax revenue neutral. The only mathematical way that happens is if our state wine excise tax is significantly increased. We were able to defeat this bill for this session but expect it to return in 2026.