The bill amends sections 5-04-02 and 5-04-14 of the North Dakota Century Code, focusing on the relationships between brewers and beer wholesalers. In section 5-04-02, the bill explicitly prohibits brewers from coercing wholesalers into accepting unordered products, entering agreements that violate state laws, or limiting their ability to sell other brewers' products. Additionally, it mandates that brewers provide written contracts to wholesalers and introduces a new provision that prevents brewers from requiring wholesalers to use or prohibiting them from using a business-to-business electronic commerce platform.

In section 5-04-14, the bill clarifies that the purchase of a brewer obligates the new purchaser to adhere to the existing agreement terms, but it removes the stipulation that this applies only when the purchaser continues in business as a brewer. The definition of "purchase" is broadened to include various forms of business transactions such as stock sales, asset sales, mergers, leases, transfers, or consolidations. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the regulatory framework governing brewer-wholesaler relations in North Dakota.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 5-04-02, 5-04-14
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senator Klein: 5-04-02, 5-04-14
Enrollment: 5-04-02, 5-04-14