Monitoring the Session

SB 2158

lower wine tax now reaches 16 percent alcohol

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Pete FloresRSenate 24

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to taxes imposed on vinous liquor.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Cutoff moves from 14 percent to 16 percent.

The bill raises the alcohol cutoff for the lower wine tax rate from 14 percent to 16 percent alcohol by volume. It touches wine sellers and buyers, especially wines between 14 and 16 percent alcohol. Those wines would be taxed at 20.4 cents per gallon instead of 40.8 cents per gallon starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 10, 2025 and referred to the Senate State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2158 · 2025-03-10

SOLD BY

Sen. Pete FloresRSenate 24

ITEM

relating to taxes imposed on vinous liquor.

WHAT IT DOES

Cutoff moves from 14 percent to 16 percent.

The bill raises the alcohol cutoff for the lower wine tax rate from 14 percent to 16 percent alcohol by volume. It touches wine sellers and buyers, especially wines between 14 and 16 percent alcohol. Those wines would be taxed at 20.4 cents per gallon instead of 40.8 cents per gallon starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Pete Flores

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$55KMorris Jaffe$25,000Justin Jaffe$25,000

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 12, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$55,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$55,000.00

Cash
$55,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$55,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100985131, 101008112, 101072110.

Morris Jaffe$25,000.00
Justin Jaffe$25,000.00
Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$55,000.00

Cash
$55,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$55,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100985131, 101008112, 101072110.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Mar 10, 2025

03/24/2025 S Referred to State Affairs

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Senate committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

HB 3993 by Troxclair (identical)

Subjects

Taxation--Alcoholic Beverages

WINE & WINERIES

Text

The text as introduced · 181 words

89R12198 JBD-D

By: Flores
S.B. No. 2158

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to taxes imposed on vinous liquor.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 201.04(a) and (b), Alcoholic Beverage

Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) A tax is imposed on the first sale of vinous liquor that

does not contain over 16 [ 14 ] percent of alcohol by volume at the

rate of 20.4 cents per gallon.

(b) A tax is imposed on vinous liquor that contains more

than 16 [ 14 ] percent of alcohol by volume at the rate of 40.8 cents

per gallon.

SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act do not affect

tax liability accruing before the effective date of this Act. That

liability continues in effect as if this Act had not been enacted,

and the former law is continued in effect for the collection of

taxes due and for civil and criminal enforcement of the liability

for those taxes.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.