Sunday Liquor Sales Bill Headed To Dayton's Desk

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota lawmakers are toasting the end to a decades-old ban on Sunday liquor sales.

The Minnesota House voted Thursday to send the bill directly to Governor Mark Dayton, who says he will sign it.

Republican leaders made Sunday sales a priority this year, moving quickly to pass the bill and join most of the rest of the country to open liquor stores on Sunday.

The bill lets liquor stores open for business on Sundays between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., beginning July 2.

After years of controversy, the vote to pass was overwhelming, and there was no debate. Supporters called it good for business, and good for Minnesota.

"It's time that we change this law, bringing Minnesota liquor laws into the 21st Century, allow Minnesota retailers to serve their Minnesota customers if they choose on Sunday and stop that migration of customers going across the border," said Rep. Jennifer Loon (R–Eden Prairie).

Dayton has said he will sign the Sunday liquor bill when it reaches his desk, and that will set in motion one of Minnesota's biggest cultural changes ever.

But Minnesota is one of the last states to do it -- including every border state around Minnesota.