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unanimously passed in the Senate chamber. Telfer’s bill, Senate Bill 1039, which would enable for-profit private clubs to apply for a full on-premise liquor license, will now move to the House for Committee assignment. Telfer is optimistic that SB 1039 will pass in the House, encouraging a unanimous vote.

“This bill simply modernizes a prohibition-era law and opens the doors for new types of businesses to emerge and grow. It’s a no-brainer”, explains Telfer, who worked closely with the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) to write the bill. She currently sees no cause for opposition of the minor change to the law. Under current statute, only non-profit private clubs or private athletic clubs may apply for a liquor license.

During the Senate Business and Transportation Committee hearing on the bill, testimony in favor was heard by Telfer, the Oregon Restaurant Association, the OLCC, and Telfer’s constituent, Adam Bledsoe, owner of a private wine club in Bend, The Loft. Bledsoe, who originally brought the issue to the attention of Telfer, has been unable to attain a liquor license for his business due to the restrictions of the current statute.

Bledsoe, who conservatively estimates that The Loft has lost over $80,000 in revenue in its first year of business by not having a full liquor license, says that “because of the small law change Senator Telfer is proposing, I am looking at expanding my business model to other locations”.

“The bill also has the potential of being a job-creator. There are numerous private clubs that will be able to grow and expand with the ability to apply for a liquor license. Anything we can do in this economic crisis to encourage job creation and business growth is a positive thing”, says Telfer.