MILLEDGEVILLE — A new legislative proposal, set to go before committee Wednesday, may allow greater flexibility at distilling operations.
The proposed House Bill 514, slated to go before the House Regulated Industries Committee, lessons the restrictions on distilling operations to allow for sampling of spirits on the premises as part of facility tours.
Advocates of the proposed legislation, which include owners of the locally-run Georgia Distilling Company, say the bill's passage will create new avenues for tourism by opening up distilling plants for tours and create new positions for hiring in the process.
The bill, which is being introduced by state Rep. Rusty Kidd, (I-Milledgeville) was initially proposed at the end of last year's legislative session.
Shawn Hall and Bill Mauldin, co-owners of Georgia Distilling Company, which launched operation last year in a portion of the Warehouse Solutions building off Highway 22, will be on hand to testify at Wednesday's hearing before the House Regulated Industries Committee.
Mauldin and Hall leased the space last February. Georgia Distilling has been up and running for the past three months, producing clear spirits including gin, vodka, rum and moonshine that are distributed in Georgia and the southeast region.
Wednesday's hearing will determine whether the piece of legislation will move in the process beyond committee and go before the entire body of House representatives for a vote.
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