Oregon is one of those states that never shies away from its own stereotype. We’ve legalized weed and we occasionally hold Wiccan rituals for Bernie Sanders. Today, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) leaned in especially hard and introduced the “KOMBUCHA Act,” which would “modernize outdated federal alcohol taxes and regulations on kombucha companies in Oregon and nationwide,” according to a press release sent out by Sen. Wyden’s team on Wednesday.
Kombucha, is, of course, a fermented tea drink that all your ex-boyfriends make in their bedroom closet. In the case of this act though, it has a double meaning: “Keeping our Manufacturers from Being Unfairly Taxed while Championing Health.”
Currently, because some kombucha contains trace amounts of alcohol, it can “trigger federal excise taxes and regulations covering alcoholic beverages,” according to the release.
The bill would eliminate “unintended tax and regulatory burdens by increasing the applicable alcohol-by-volume limit for kombucha from 0.5 percent to 1.25 percent.”
“The growth of kombucha production in our state and throughout the country creates jobs and a tasty beverage,” Wyden said in the statement.
Oregon is home to several kombucha brands, including Lion Heart Kombucha, Humm Kombucha and Townshends.
“This legislation would update taxes and regulations,” Wyden said, “so these small businesses can continue to build on their achievements creating good jobs and good flavor for kombucha’s many fans.”
Count Wyden among those fans. In October, he visited the Bend headquarters of Humm Kombucha and tweeted about their “tasty” products.
What a blast getting to meet today in Bend with @hummkombucha & hear from the staff all about the tasty products they make. pic.twitter.com/NxSJtXbkF3
— Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) October 27, 2016
It’s not the first time Wyden has been spotted with a ‘buch in hand.
Our founder Matt Thomas received @PDXBIZJournal’s Forty under 40 award and brought @RonWyden a Kombucha to boot! pic.twitter.com/j0ndpk5hto
— TSonsDistillery (@Tsonsdistillery) February 21, 2016
The bill is being co-sponsored in the House by Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and Rep. Scott Tipton (R-Colo.).
— Lizzy Acker
503-221-8052
lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker
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