The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.West Virginia Bill HB 5243 allows bars to purchase liquor directly from nearby local distilleries
Last action · February 5, 2026: To House JudiciarySponsors: Mike Pushkin and 1 other
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What This Bill Proposed
House Bill 5243 authorizes licensed bars and private clubs to purchase liquor directly from a licensed distillery, , or micro-distillery if the distillery is located within 10 miles and manufactured the liquor.
Local bars and nearby distilleries gain a direct wholesale purchasing option within a 10-mile radius, bypassing standard state distribution channels for those specific local transactions.
- West Virginia law regulates alcoholic beverage manufacturing, distribution, and retail sales primarily through the Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Bars and private clubs
Licensed bars and private clubs gain authorization to purchase liquor directly from local distilleries within a 10-mile radius.
Distilleries, mini-distilleries, and micro-distilleries
Distilleries are permitted to sell their manufactured liquor directly to nearby licensed bars and private clubs under specific geographic and volume conditions.
Market zone retailers
Market zone retailers receive quarterly distributions calculated from a percentage of monthly retail sales made by local distilleries.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any bar buy liquor directly from any distillery under this bill?
Are there production limits for distilleries under this legislation?
What fees apply to off-premises sales of liquor from distilleries?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
4 actions- Feb 5, 2026HouseCommitteeTo House Judiciary
- Feb 5, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced in House
- Feb 5, 2026HouseCommitteeTo Judiciary
- Feb 5, 2026HouseIntroducedFiled for introduction
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wvlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 40)
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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