One More Step Needed as the Senate Passed a Sunday Liquor Sales Bill

Soon the total number of states that prevents the selling of liquor products on Sundays will drop to 11, as the Senate voted and then passed a bill on Monday that will kill an 81 year old ban in Minnesota.

The bill passed through on a 38-28 vote after only an hours worth of discussion. The House’s version of the repeal passed fairly easily last week.

This has been a controversial topic for many years as supporters of repealing the ban say consumers want choices, and businesses are losing customers on Sundays to neighboring states like Wisconsin here in the Southeast portion of the state.

While it’s been reported that Governor Mark Dayton will sign the bill into law if it passes through the Senate and the House, the bill would officially become effective on July 1 of this year. However, there's just one more small issue.

Both bills the House and Senate passed are slightly different – the Senate version of the bill makes it legal for liquor stores to sell booze on Sundays from 11 am to 6 pm, while the House version sets hours to 10 am to 6 pm.

There's also the problem with individual city ordinances – like one that’s in place in Rochester – that could still prevent liquor stores from being open on Sundays, or further limit the hours they can sell booze.

So even though the bill has cleared two YUGE hurdles, that one final issue has to be resolved before everyone can come to a final agreement. Still, for those who have been waiting for this moment their entire lives, it's quite the momentous day none-the-less.