TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "BEER" TO CHANGE THE ALLOWABLE ALCOHOLIC CONTENT AND TO INCLUDE MALT BEVERAGES.
Latest action: Died on House Calendar at Sine Die adjournment.
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Filed amendments on record: H1 (House) by M. Brown, filed Jan 29, 2025, 4:41 p.m. CT: Hall of the House of Representatives 95th General Assembly - Regular Session, 2025 Amendment Form ______________________________________________________________________ Subtitle of House Bill 1173 TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "BEER" TO CHANGE THE ALLOWABLE ALCOHOLIC CONTENT AND TO .
Fiscal Impact Statement
Bill: HB1173
Bill Subtitle: TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "BEER" TO CHANGE THE ALLOWABLE
ALCOHOLIC CONTENT AND TO INCLUDE MALT BEVERAGES.
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Sponsors:
Rep. M. Brown and Sen. Flippo
Basic Change:
HB1173 amends several provisions of the Arkansas Alcoholic Control Act (AACA), § 3-1-101 et seq.,
related to the permissible alcoholic content of malt liquor, beer, or both in various contexts. HB1173
changes the definition of "malt" found in § 3-1-102(a)(5) by raising the alcoholic content for "malt" liquor
from more than 5% of alcohol by weight to more than 14% of alcohol by weight. The bill also excludes
from the definition of "malt," beer containing not more than 14% of alcohol by weight, which is an
increase from the current language excluding beer containing not more than 5% of alcohol by weight.
The bill amends numerous other provisions of the AACA's beer and light wine laws to reflect an
increase in alcoholic content of beer from the current 5% of alcohol by weight, to 14% of alcohol by
weight, including § 3-7-104(6)(A) which addre
Fiscal Impact Statement
Bill: HB1173 Amendment Number: H1
Bill Subtitle: TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF "BEER" TO CHANGE THE ALLOWABLE
ALCOHOLIC CONTENT AND TO INCLUDE MALT BEVERAGES.
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Sponsors:
Rep. M. Brown and Sen. Flippo
Basic Change:
House Amendment No . 1 – HB1173-H1 (engrossed 1/30/25) amends the original bill's definition of
"malt" by limiting "malt" to "liquor brewed from the fermented juices of grain." The amendment provides
a new definition for "malt beverage":
• Liquor brewed from the fermented juices of grain and having an alcoholic content by weight
between 5% and 21%;
• Beer containing not more than 14% of alcohol by weight; and
• All other malt beverages containing not more than 14% of alcohol by weight.
The amendment additionally clarifies that beer includes fermented liquor made from "a malt substitute"
rather than fermented liquor made from "any substitute" as provided in current law.
Original Bill – HB1173 amends several provisions of the Arkansas Alcoholic Control Act (AACA), §
3-1-101 et seq., related to the permissible alcoholic c
Committee actions
Do Pass as amended · House · Jan 29, 2025, 4:53 p.m. CT
Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it do pass as amended 1
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