Pike County’s draft beer legislation is nearly halfway through the process of passing.
City Councilman Marcus Paramore has followed the legislation since two companion bills were introduced, one in the Alabama House and one in the state Senate.
“It received its second reading in the House and the Senate,” he said. “And it should pass through on Tuesday.”
Paramore said two companion bills were drafted and sent to each branch in case one got held up or squashed by politics. Only one of the bills needs to pass.
“It only takes one senator to stop the whole process,” he said.
The process started with a request from local restaurateurs Jamie and Lyndsay Taylor. They met with Troy City Council to gauge interest in allowing draft beer service in Troy.
“Really, we just want your opinions, if it is worth pursuing … if it isn’t, then we will not bring it up ‘til, obviously, it’s with your backing,” said Lyndsay Taylor during the council’s work session.
The Taylors cited costs and the impact on the environment (kegs can be recycled) as reasons for getting draft beer service in Troy.
The City Council asked that state officials introduce a bill on their behalf. Before the bill could be introduced, it had to be advertised in the media for four weeks.
During that phase, Pike County commissioners asked legislators to allow draft beer service in not only Troy, but throughout the county.
Paramore said passing the bill through each branch takes a total of five legislative days.
“We’ve got plenty of time,” he said. “When we started, we had eight legislative days left. That gave us three extra days to play with.”