Minnesota Legislature Votes to Nix Sunday Liquor Sales Ban

ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota Legislature has voted to repeal the
state's long-standing ban on Sunday liquor sales.

The state Senate passed a bill undoing the Prohibition-era ban on a 38-28 vote
Monday. It follows the House's overwhelming approval of similar legislation last
week.

Lawmakers have struggled for years to lift the ban but those efforts have
regularly fallen far short. An influx of new, more supportive lawmakers and
pressure from Republican House Speaker Kurt Daudt gave it an extra push this
year.

It's not headed to Gov. Mark Dayton's desk yet. The Senate bill restricts
Sunday liquor sales to a narrower time window than House legislation. The House
could agree to a shorter opening period this week.

If passed, liquor stores could open on Sundays starting in July.