California: Your Action is Needed!

Dear California AHA Member,

Your action is needed now to ensure AB 2609 is signed into law. If signed, this bill will allow homebrewer organizations to host homebrew events in the state of California like the Southern California Homebrewers Festival and the AHA National Homebrewers Conference.

Last year, the California legislature passed a well-intentioned bill, AB 1425, which had the unfortunate consequence of making it illegal for nonprofit homebrewer organizations to host homebrew events like those cited above.

AB 2609 will once again allow the California Homebrewers Association to organize the Southern California Homebrewers Festival, an annual event attended by 2,000 homebrewers that had to be cancelled this year due to the change in law. Without passage of AB 2609, the AHA may be forced to cancel or relocate the 2015 AHA National Homebrewers Conference planned for San Diego.

Both the Assembly and Senate voted unanimously in favor of AB 2609. Next week the Assembly will send the bill to the Governor’s desk for his signature.

How Can You Help?

To help ensure Governor Jerry Brown signs AB 2609, we ask that you mail or fax a letter urging the Governor to do so. (See sample letter below—please customize the letter with your own words, being polite and respectful.) The fax number is 916-558-3177.

Thank you for your support of homebrewers. Your action could make the difference in whether or not this legislation becomes law. Please forward this message to other California residents and businesses that may be interested in supporting this bill.

Sincerely,

• Gary Glass
• Director
• American Homebrewers Association

---

SAMPLE LETTER

August 8, 2014

• Office of Governor Jerry Brown
• Attn: Camille Wagner, Deputy Legislative Secretary
• State Capitol, Office of the Governor
• Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Brown:

RE: Support for AB 2609

I am requesting that you sign AB 2609 on behalf of California’s homebrewers.

Homebrewers love to share with and learn from one another. California’s homebrewers have been fortunate to have events like the Southern California Homebrewers Festival and the Northern California Homebrewers Festival. These events strengthen the homebrewing community and help individual homebrewers refine their craft.

Unfortunately, the passage last year of AB 1425 led to the cancellation of the 24th annual Southern California Homebrewers Association Festival scheduled for early May, and could threaten the 37th annual American Homebrewers Association National Homebrewers Conference planned for 2015. Enactment of AB 2609 would restore the ability of homebrewer organizations to host events for homebrewers.

Please show your support for California’s 150,000 homebrewers by passing AB 2609.

Sincerely,

• ##NAME##
• ##HOME ADDRESS##