TN Senate to take up House version of wine bill

Monday, March 3, 2014

photo A sign in a Kroger supermarket in Nashville urges shoppers to sign up for a group urging lawmakers to change state law that limits wine sales to liquor stores.
Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A measure to allow wine to be sold outside of Tennessee liquor stores may soon be heading to the governor for his consideration.

The Senate, which passed its version of the bill 23-8 in January, is scheduled this evening to take up the House version that overwhelmingly passed 71-15 last month.

Lawmakers will try to work out slight differences in the bills, such as licensing fees.

Both measures would grant authority to cities and counties that currently have package stores or liquor-by-the-drink sales to hold referendums on whether to allow wine to be sold in supermarkets and convenience stores.

The proposals also allow for local votes to take place as early as this fall, but would not allow supermarket wine sales until at least July 2016.