ABC-Gaming Subcommittee

Tuesday, January 27, 2026·44m·▶ Watch / Listen

The ABC-Gaming Subcommittee advanced six bills — including measures modernizing casino employee permits, electronic charitable raffles, fantasy contest regulation, a Richmond music venue's liquor license, and private cemetery maintenance — while laying on the table a spirits barrel display bill, striking one bill at the sponsor's request, and passing by three others amid unresolved concerns about distillery cocktail service and food requirements.

Key Actions

·HB308 – Passed by for the dayPassed

+ 6 more actions

Controversies

HB934 — Whether distilleries should be allowed to serve unlimited cocktails without a food requirement

Tom Lisk (legal counsel to the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association) argued that Commonwealth policy since 1968 treats spirits very differently from beer and wine, that restaurants face a strict food ratio for mixed beverages, and that the bill would allow distillers to become bars with unlimited cocktails and no corresponding food requirement. Delegate Simon and David Cutno (VP, Virginia Distillers Association) countered that the bill creates parity with breweries and wineries and is limited to on-premises manufacturing sites, with Cutno arguing there is no public safety justification for the current imbalance.

+ 2 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“Virginia wineries and breweries already sell directly to consumers through tasting rooms and other events. Virginia distilleries, despite similar size, agricultural routes and tourism value, are Limited to just 3 ounce of sales per person per day on premises without any public safety justification for the current imbalance.”
David Cutno, VP Virginia Distillers Association — Cutno was testifying in favor of HB934, which would allow distilleries to serve cocktails on premises and expand sampling, arguing the current limit creates an unjustified disparity with craft brewers and wineries.

+ 4 more quotes

Votes

Pass by HB308 for the dayPassed

Pass by HB980 for the dayPassed

Carry over HB1181 to the 2027 sessionPassed

Adopt line amendments to HB934Passed

Pass by HB934 for the dayPassed

Report HB218Passed

Lay HB384 on the tablePassed

Strike HB741Passed

Report HB1045Passed

Report HB1237Passed

Report HB791Passed

Report and refer HB145 to appropriationsPassed

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TranscriptPreview

Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the subcommittee on ABC and gaming. Clerk, will you open the roll for record our presence. Okay. Clerk. And close the roll. We have a couple of bills that we need to do a little bit of housekeeping on. First up is HB308 and that is Delegate Hope's bill that he would like to pass by for the day. Would entertain the motion, please. Second. It's been moved and seconded. We passed by HB 308. All those in favor of the motion, please vote aye. Aye. Also, Delegate Garrett, HB980 request passed by for the day. So move second the movement. Second. That we pass by HB980. All those in favor? Aye. And also at the request of the chairman, he would like to have HB 1181 carried over to the next session. 2027 session. It's been moved in. Second that we carry over HB 1181. All those in favor? Aye. Thank you. Okay, first bill up will be Delegate Simon, HB934. The subcommittee. I think there are some line amendments before. I'd like to have someone move the line amendments. All those in favor? Aye. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So the bill as amended…

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