What's happening
This bill increases the license fee for wholesale beer sellers to sell cider from $125 to $375.
Why it matters
Increases costs for wholesale beer distributors who also want to sell cider. , potentially impacting hundreds of businesses across New York State, especially those in regions with growing craft cider industries like the Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes.
May influence the pricing and availability of cider at retail locations. (bars, restaurants, beverage stores), since wholesalers facing higher licensing fees might pass on those costs to retailers and, ultimately, consumers.
Aligns the cider-selling license term with the main wholesale beer license. , streamlining regulatory compliance but making it harder for wholesalers to opt in or out of cider sales mid-license, which could affect small or seasonal operators.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Wholesale Beer Licensees
Directly impacted as they will now have to pay a higher fee ($375 instead of $125) if they want to sell cider at wholesale, affecting their costs and business planning.
Cider Producers and Suppliers
Indirectly affected because higher licensing costs for wholesalers may influence the volume or ease with which their products reach retailers.
Retailers (Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores)
May see changes in the price, availability, or diversity of cider products depending on how wholesalers respond to the increased licensing fee.
State Government (Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority)
Stands to collect increased revenue from the higher fee and will need to implement and enforce the updated licensing structure.
Headline styles
Raise Cider License Fee
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 42
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A11437
- Ordered to third reading cal.1764
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to commerce, economic development and small business
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Raise Cider License Fee
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Albert A. Stirpe
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10172
IN SENATE
May 4, 2026
Introduced by Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business
AN ACT to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to license fees required to be paid by wholesale beer licensees to sell cider
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 58-a of the alcoholic beverage control law, as amended by chapter 204 of the laws of 1963, is amended to read as follows:
§ 58-a. Sale of cider by wholesale beer licensees. A wholesale beer licensee, as defined under this chapter shall, upon the payment of an additional [annual] license fee of [one hundred twenty-five] three hundred seventy-five dollars, be permitted to sell cider as defined under this chapter at wholesale from duly licensed premises, to duly licensed beer, wine and liquor retailers and to other holders of licenses under this chapter, in bottles, barrels or casks, and to sell and deliver cider to persons outside the state pursuant to the laws of the place of such delivery. The term of such license shall run concurrently with the term of the wholesale license established as set forth in section fifty-seven-a of this chapter. The provisions of section fifty-seven of this chapter shall apply to licenses issued hereunder to sell cider at wholesale pursuant to the provisions of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15749-01-6
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to license fees required to be paid by wholesale beer licensees to sell cider
Purpose
To ensure that the additional allowance to sell cider by beer wholesaler licensees mirrors the length of licensure for beer wholesale.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends section 58-a of the alcoholic beverage control law by changing the additional license fee for the sale of cider to 375 dollars and establishing that the term to sell cider by wholesale beer licensees shall run concurrently with the term of the wholesale license.
Section 2: Sets Effective Date.
Justification
The alcoholic beverage control law currently allows licensed beer whole- salers, for an additional annual fee, to be permitted to sell cider for a period of one year. As the state prepares to extend the general licen- sure period for beer wholesalers from one year to three, mirroring the duration already enjoyed by liquor and wine wholesalers, beer whole- salers should not be stuck reapplying annually for this distinct cider allowance.
This legislation would tie the licensing period for this cider provision to that of beer wholesalers generally. It further triples the fee required to be paid by beer wholesalers for this cider privilege, align- ing the cost with a three-year term rather than a one-year term.
Bringing parity to terms of licensure will simplify and streamline administrative burdens placed not only on these wholesalers, but on the State Liquor Authority.
Legislative history
New Bill.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.