Senate Committee Passes S-766, Direct Shipping Bill!

Congratulations! You did it! We are very pleased to report the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee yesterday afternoon reported the direct shipping bill out of committee by a unanimous 5-0 vote.

Senate President Sweeney, one of the bill's sponsors, commented on the importance of this issue, "Allowing direct shipments of wine to and from New Jersey will not only enhance consumer choice, but would provide essential inroads for our budding wine industry. With our wineries producing better and better wines and winning prestigious awards, we should be expanding, not limiting, access to New Jersey wines."

We would like to sincerely thank the following individuals and organizations who testified at the committee hearing in favor of S766:

Steven E. Some, on behalf of UnCorkNJ

Jon Holt, on behalf of the Wine Institute

Charlie Tomasello, co-owner of Tomasello Winery in Hammonton, NJ, and on behalf of the Garden State Wine Growers Association

Rory Philipson, owner of The Blue Bottle Cafe in Hopewell, NJ

Bruce Smith, wine enthusiast

We would also like to thank the following individuals and organizations who were not able to testify but wrote-in their support for the direct shipping bill:

Joe Broski, national secretary of the American Wine Society

Phyllis Deroian, wine enthusiast

Barbara and Murry Kirch, wine enthusiasts

Please continue to encourage your friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues to contact their legislators and support direct shipping.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF UNCORKNJ, WE ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO GETTING THE BILL PASSED!!!

Comments

[Jim]

how many more "steps" are there to getting the bill passed?

[Jason]

There are four additional steps before the direct shipping bill becomes law. The entire Senate must vote on S766. The Assembly counterpart, A1702, will be referred to an Assembly committee for a vote before the entire Assembly votes on the bill. Following those votes, the Governor must sign the bill.