SB 563-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2162
08/09
SENATE BILL 563-FN
AN ACT relative to direct shippers of wine.
SPONSORS: Sen. Reardon, Dist 15; Sen. Innis, Dist 7
COMMITTEE: Commerce
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires a license for direct shippers of wine from small wineries for sale into the state of New Hampshire.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2162
08/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to direct shippers of wine.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Direct Wine Shipper; License. Amend RSA 178 by inserting after section 27-b the following new section:
178:27-c Direct Shippers; Small Wineries.
I. In this section, “direct wine shipper” means a winery located outside of New Hampshire that produces fewer than 5,000 cases of wine in a calendar year and is licensed to ship wine directly to consumers and licensees in New Hampshire.
II. A small winery may apply to the New Hampshire liquor commission for a direct wine shipper license. The license shall authorize the shipment of wine directly to consumers and licensees within New Hampshire. The license shall be renewed annually and subject to a fee determined by the liquor commission in rules established under RSA 541-A.
III. All sales made by a direct wine shipper into New Hampshire shall include a surcharge of 25 percent of the sale price. The surcharge shall be remitted to the commission no later than the 15th day of the month following the month in which the sale occurred. Direct wine shippers from small wineries shall submit monthly reports to the commission detailing:
(a) Quantity of wine sold;
(b) Names and addresses of licensees and consumers to whom wine was shipped;
(c) Price of each sale;
(d) Total surcharge collected and remitted.
IV. All sales made under this section shall conform to RSA 179:5. The commission may suspend or revoke a direct wine shipper license for violations of this chapter or other applicable laws.
V. The liquor commission shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A to implement the provisions of this section, including but not limited to application procedures, reporting formats, including a website to register for a license, report sales, and remit surcharges, and enforcement mechanisms.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
26-2162
11/18/25
SB 563-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to direct shippers of wine.
FISCAL IMPACT:
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||||
Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable Increase $10,000 to $100,000 | Indeterminable Increase $10,000 to $100,000 | Indeterminable Increase $10,000 to $100,000 | ||||
Revenue Fund(s) | Liquor Fund | |||||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill creates a new license type for “small wineries” that produce fewer than 5,000 cases of wine annually. The bill authorizes these wineries to ship wine directly to consumers and licensees in New Hampshire, subject to a license fee and a 25 percent surcharge on the sale price of all direct shipments.
The Liquor Commission states this bill will result in an indeterminable increase in state revenue from the new 25 percent surcharge on direct shipments and any associated license fees. The Commission is unable to estimate the number of small wineries that would seek licensure or the volume of sales that would occur under this new category but assumes it would be in the range of $10,000 to $100,000. The Commission notes current direct shipper licensees under RSA 178:27 pay a $100 annual license fee and an 8 percent fee on the retail value of sales. The new small winery license would replace or supplement these existing arrangements, potentially affecting both surcharge and fee collections.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Liquor Commission
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 13, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
Dec. 8, 2025: Hearing: 01/13/2026, Room 100, SH, 10:00 am; SC 46
Nov. 25, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 1