HB 2536
In CommitteeHouse
Wineries/restaurant license
Allowing wineries to hold a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant license.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill expands the ability of Washington’s wine, beer, and spirits producers to operate retail locations and sell their products directly to consumers, including allowing wineries and breweries to hold multiple retail licenses and partner with restaurants to waive corkage fees. It also clarifies that certain trade associations and nonprofits can host events on winery property under specific conditions.
- Domestic wineries can now hold retail licenses to sell beer and wine on-site and at one additional off-site location.
- Domestic breweries and microbreweries can hold retail licenses for beer and wine on-site and at one additional off-site location, and may also operate spirits, beer, and wine restaurants at one or more additional locations.
- Craft distilleries can now sell their own spirits and may operate spirits, beer, and wine restaurants on or contiguous to their production premises.
- Wineries and restaurants can now agree to waive corkage fees (fees charged for opening a customer’s own bottle of wine).
- Wine industry associations and charitable nonprofits with winery representatives on their board can now obtain special occasion licenses to serve wine at events on winery premises.
Who is affected
- Domestic wineries — Can now hold retail licenses to sell their own and other producers' beer, wine, and spirits on-site and, in some cases, at one additional off-site location.
- Domestic breweries and microbreweries — Can now sell beer and wine on-site at their location and, in some cases, at one additional off-site location; can also hold spirits, beer, and wine restaurant licenses at one or more additional locations.
- Craft distilleries — Can now hold a spirits, beer, and wine restaurant license at one or more additional locations and may operate a caterer’s event on a winery premises.
- Restaurants (especially those located on or near wineries) — Can now operate a restaurant on winery premises without paying a corkage fee, and wineries can partner with restaurants to waive such fees.
- Wine industry associations and charitable nonprofits in the wine sector — Can now hold special occasion licenses for events and may operate on winery premises if they include winery representatives on their board.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (5)
The bill enables small- and medium-sized wineries, breweries, and distilleries to diversify revenue through on-site retail and restaurant operations, potentially increasing local employment and supporting rural economic development by reducing reliance on third-party distributors.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), (2), (3), (5), (6), (7), (8)Waiving corkage fees for winery-restaurant partnerships lowers barriers for consumers to enjoy local wine with meals, supporting small restaurants and tasting rooms by increasing foot traffic and average spend—especially beneficial for rural tourism economies.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(16)Allowing wine industry associations and 501(c)(3) nonprofits to host events on winery premises under special occasion licenses supports educational, cultural, and fundraising activities that promote responsible consumption and community engagement—though this is a modest public benefit relative to the commercial expansions.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(10), (11)Explicitly affirming the right of producers to ship directly to consumers (via existing shipper permits and certificates of approval) strengthens e-commerce capacity for small producers, expanding market reach without requiring new licensing—though this right already existed in prior law.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(13), (14)The ability to hold multiple retail licenses—including at off-site locations—allows producers to scale operations more efficiently, potentially increasing local procurement (e.g., food, supplies, staffing) and supporting ancillary businesses like farms and artisans in wine country.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), (2), (3), (5), (6), (7), (8)
Potential Concerns (5)
The bill significantly expands commercial opportunities for large wine, beer, and spirits producers by allowing them to operate multiple retail locations, including full-service restaurants, and to bypass traditional distributor channels—effectively vertical integration that favors capital-intensive operators with real estate and staffing capacity.
Business & EmploymentIndustryRef: Sec. 1(1), (2), (3), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16)The special provisions for trade associations and nonprofits—including board membership requirements tied to winery owners—effectively grant exclusive licensing privileges to industry-aligned organizations, consolidating influence and access for established players while excluding smaller or independent groups.
Business & EmploymentIndustryRef: Sec. 1(10), (11)Allowing wineries and restaurants to waive corkage fees creates a new revenue stream for winery-restaurant partnerships, but this primarily benefits larger wineries with on-site dining operations and high-margin wine sales, not small independent restaurants or consumers.
Business & EmploymentLean industryRef: Sec. 1(16)The bill may strain local zoning and licensing enforcement capacity as wineries, breweries, and distilleries expand into multi-licensed retail and restaurant operations, potentially increasing demand for code compliance and permitting staff at the municipal level.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(2), (3), (5), (6), (7), (8)Expanded on-site and off-site retail and restaurant operations increase alcohol service density in tourism and hospitality zones, raising concerns about impaired driving, overconsumption, and strain on local law enforcement and emergency response resources—especially in rural areas with limited infrastructure.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Fiscal Impact section (not in bill text but in summary); Sec. 1(2), (3), (5), (6), (7), (8)
Who Is Most Affected
Large and medium-sized wineries, breweries, and distilleries with real estate and capital to expand retail and restaurant operations will gain significant new revenue streams and market power; many will benefit disproportionately due to economies of scale and location advantages.
Small, independent restaurants—especially those near wineries—may benefit from increased foot traffic and corkage fee waivers, but could also face increased competition from new winery-restaurant hybrids and may not qualify for the expanded licensing unless affiliated.
Local governments in wine-producing regions may see increased tax revenue and tourism, but also face higher costs for policing, traffic management, and zoning enforcement due to denser alcohol service operations.
Consumers gain convenience and choice—especially in wine country—but may face higher prices due to reduced competition from independent distributors and restaurants; low-income consumers are unlikely to benefit meaningfully from premium experiences.
Trade associations and wine nonprofits gain new event-hosting authority, but only if they include winery representatives on their boards—effectively limiting access to industry-aligned groups and excluding truly independent or consumer-focused nonprofits.