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AB 720

Relating to: coverage and reimbursement of emergency ambulance services under health insurance policies and plans. (FE)

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Deb Andraca and 14 co-sponsors

Expands winegrowers' licensing flexibility - new estate tasting permit and mixed-license storage/sell rights - while updating container labeling rules.

Read first time and referred to Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · AB 720

AB 720 (Rogers) — Summary (Beverages: alcohol permits; container labeling)

Purpose

AB 720 revises alcohol licensing rules for winegrowers and brandy manufacturers, creates a new limited “estate tasting event” permit for winegrowers, and amends beverage‑container labeling requirements under the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act. The bill clarifies where production exceptions apply, expands certain operating privileges, sets fees and event limits for estate tastings, and adjusts label methods, size requirements, and transitional exemptions for beverage containers.

Key provisions

Alcohol licensing and on‑site/off‑site privileges

  • Clarifies that the statutory exception for “production or manufacture” does not include mere storage of wine or the “topping” of wine barrels (i.e., topping off barrels is not treated as production for purposes of off‑site license privileges).
  • Allows a holder of both a winegrower license and a brandy manufacturer license at the same premises — even if one is a master license and the other a branch license — to store and age product, conduct brandy tastings, and sell for off‑premises consumption (overriding the existing rule that manufacturer licenses on a single premises must be all master or all branch).

Estate tasting event permit (new)

  • Authorizes licensed winegrowers to apply for an “estate tasting event” permit to exercise tasting-room privileges (for wine manufactured by or for the winegrower) at specified off‑site locations, subject to local land‑use rules.
  • Requires departmental consent for each event via an estate tasting event authorization.
  • Fees: $100 per estate tasting event; annual estate tasting event permit fee of $200.
  • Limits: No more than 36 estate tasting event authorizations per licensee per calendar year.
  • Transferability: The permit may be transferred as part of the winegrower’s license.

Beverage container labeling and recycling requirements

  • Authorizes etching a required California redemption‑value message on a beverage container (in addition to printing, embossing, stamping, or labeling).
  • Requires machine‑readable markings (scan code, QR code, UPC or similar) on containers to be at least 1/2 inch in size.
  • Authorizes use of a chasing‑arrows recyclable symbol inside a machine‑readable label.

  • Extends labeling transition/exemption periods:

    • Extends the general exemption for containers newly in scope on Jan 1, 2024 from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2026.
    • Changes the “filled and labeled before” cutoff: containers filled and labeled before July 1, 2025 (previously Jan 1, 2024) are exempt.

  • Enforcement: Violations of the labeling requirements (or related regs) are criminalized under the Act; the bill’s changes expand the scope of that crime (noted as imposing a state‑mandated local program).

Who is affected

  • Winegrowers and brandy manufacturers (operations, off‑site events, licensing relationships).
  • Beverage manufacturers and packagers (labeling methods, etching options, machine‑readable mark size).
  • Retailers, distributors, and recyclers (compliance and handling of labeled containers).
  • Local land‑use authorities (event approvals may be subject to local rules).
  • Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (permits, authorizations) and enforcement entities.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Fee specifics: $100 per event; $200 annual permit fee (estate tasting event).
  • Constitutional reimbursement: the bill states no state reimbursement to local agencies is required for specified reasons.
  • Legislative status and timeline:
    • Introduced: February 14, 2025.
    • Passed both houses with amendments; enrolled and presented to Governor Sept. 24, 2025.
    • Approved by the Governor and chaptered as Chapter 562, Statutes of 2025 (Oct. 10, 2025).

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Provides winegrowers more flexibility to host off‑site tastings and to manage brandy/wine operations on mixed‑license premises, subject to event limits and local land‑use approval.
  • Packaging and labeling operations may need to adjust artwork/production processes to meet the new machine‑readable size requirement and to accommodate etching options.
  • The extended transition period (to July 1, 2026) gives manufacturers additional time to comply with new labeling rules.
  • Expansion of criminal penalties for labeling noncompliance could increase enforcement exposure for manufacturers and sellers.

(Author: Rogers)

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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