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December 9, 2016

Senate okays farmers' market alcohol sales

Photo Courtesy Destination Worcester via Flickr Farmers' markets, such as the one held at Crompton Collective in Worcester, could sell alcohol if a bill approved by the Senate were to go through.

Farmer brewers and farmer distillers would be permitted to sell their alcoholic beverage products at farmers' markets under legislation that cleared the Senate during a lightly attended session Thursday.

Under the bill, farmers would be able to get a special license from their local licensing authority to sell their wine, malt beverages, or distilled spirits in sealed containers for off-premises consumption.

They would also be able to serve free samples - up to five samples per prospective customer, according to the bill.

Applicants would have to get certification from the state Department of Agricultural Resources showing the fair or market is a genuine "agricultural event."

The bill (S 2513) is a Senate Ways and Means redraft of legislation originally sponsored by Sen. Benjamin Downing of Pittsfield.

Senators on Thursday also engrossed their version of a House bill affecting insurance coverage of prescription eye drops (S 2512), which stems from bills sponsored in the House by Reps. Mark Cusack of Braintree and Tricia Farley Bouvier of Pittsfield.

The bill, which was released from the Senate Rules Committee Thursday, would require insurance plans to cover refills of prescription eye drops under Medicare part D guidelines if the original prescription is covered and indicates the refills are needed, according to Sen. Mark Montigny's office.

The Senate added provisions allowing some optometrists to treat anaphylactic reactions by injecting epinephrine or adrenaline.

The House version of the eye care bill was approved in July.

The Senate also passed bills dealing with property taxes in Westwood, a means-tested senior property tax exemption in Concord, and special police officers in Weymouth.

The House met for ten minutes Thursday, advancing bills dealing with local affairs in Stoughton and Abington, as well as legislation affecting municipal contracts in Somerville and linkage fees in Everett.

A bill naming a bridge in Freetown after former Sen. Joan Menard was sent to Gov. Charlie Baker's desk Thursday after final enactment votes were taken in both branches.

Both branches meet next on Monday at 11 a.m. Departing House members plan to deliver farewell remarks on Thursday, Dec. 15.

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