This bill establishes a new licensing framework for direct shippers of wine from small wineries in New Hampshire, specifically targeting those wineries that produce fewer than 5,000 cases of wine annually. The new section, RSA 178:27-c, mandates that these small wineries apply for a direct wine shipper license from the New Hampshire liquor commission, which will allow them to ship wine directly to consumers and licensees within the state. The license will require annual renewal and will be subject to a fee determined by the liquor commission. Additionally, all sales made by direct wine shippers will incur a 25 percent surcharge on the sale price, which must be remitted to the commission monthly along with detailed sales reports.

The bill also includes provisions for the suspension or revocation of licenses for violations of applicable laws and requires the liquor commission to adopt rules for implementing these new regulations. The effective date for this act is set for July 1, 2026. The fiscal impact is projected to result in an indeterminable increase in state revenue from the new surcharge and license fees, with estimates ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 in the initial years, although the exact figures depend on the number of small wineries that apply for the license and the volume of sales generated.