Shelby Review

State Representative Tom Kuhn has achieved a legislative success with the Michigan House's passage of his bill aimed at reforming state liquor regulations. The bill, known as House Bill 4114, is designed to bring fairness and efficiency to the regulatory process by allowing the Michigan Liquor Control Commission to focus on recent violations when making licensing decisions. Only infractions from the past two years will be considered unless they resulted in license revocation.

"Small business owners who’ve demonstrated good conduct shouldn’t be permanently penalized for old, minor infractions," said Kuhn. "This bill gives them a clear path forward after two years of compliance, while still holding serious offenders accountable. With so many hardworking entrepreneurs navigating complex regulations and economic pressure, this reform helps make the system work better for everyone."

The change affects nearly 20,000 licensees across Michigan and aims to improve regulatory efficiency by concentrating on current conduct rather than outdated issues.

In addition to House Bill 4114, another piece of legislation, House Bill 4113, also advanced in the House. Co-sponsored by Kuhn, this bill proposes increasing the liquor discount for retailers from 17% to 23%. This measure seeks to provide financial relief to small businesses such as bars, restaurants, and shops that are still recovering from economic challenges like rising costs and inflation.

“These reforms are about practical, pro-small-business policy,” stated Kuhn. “We’re promoting fairness, improving enforcement, and giving small retailers a better chance to thrive.”