Category Archives: Legislative Events

Legislative events and news relevant to Minnesota liquor, wine, and beer consumers

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Senate Passes Sunday Liquor Sales 38-28

History Made

Minnesota Senate made history today with a 38-28 vote. The vote would allow, but not require, the sale of liquor, wine, beer and in off-sale establishments in Minnesota. Full language for the bill can be can be found here.

The vote came quickly after the bill passed 7-4 out of Senate Commerce Committee just last week. The Senate debate was not quick. You can watch the entire debate here. The bill passed in a truly bipartisan split. 19 Republicans and 19 Democrats passed Sunday liquor sales out of the Senate 38-28. You can see their votes below.

Sunday Liquor Sales Senate vote 2017

Now What?

There are some minor differences between the House and Senate bills to legalize Sunday liquor sales. Both versions limit the hours of operation to an 8-hour shift. The Senate version begins 11 am, the House version begins at 10 am. The Senate version also precludes merchandising, sales, and delivery. The differences in the bills can either be settled in a conference committee, or one of the legislative bodies may adopt the language of the other. The contentious debate in the Senate might mean that the House adopting Senate language would be the easiest path to Governor Dayton’s desk. Governor Dayton has stated that he would not veto Sunday liquor sales.

When can Minnesota Consumers buy Spirits, Wine, and Beer on a Sunday?

The differences in the bills need to be worked out, and Governor Dayton needs to allow the bill to become law. Once that happens, Sunday liquor sales would go into effect on July 1st, 2017. Freedom and liberty will taste a little sweeter this Independence Day.

Subscribe to the MN Beer Activists newsletter & stay tuned for details on a proper celebration.

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Sunday Liquor Sales MN Senate Vote Count – #SundaySalesMN

Minnesota Senators need to hear from you!

The House passed a bill repealing the Sunday liquor sales ban. The Senate Commerce Committee approved their version with a recommendation to pass it. On Monday, the full Senate will likely hear the bill to repeal the ban on Sunday off-sale liquor sales in Minnesota. LET’S MAKE SURE MINNESOTA CONSUMERS HAVE THE VOTES!

What to do

  • Call and email your Senator and politely ask them to support Sunday liquor sales. Be polite, and let them know you expect a reply with their position. You can find their contact information below. Click HERE if you are not sure who represents you,
  • Let us know if your Senator is voting to repeal the ban on Sunday liquor sales, or if they are representing special interests.
  • Be sure to be polite. Thank your Senator if they plan on representing their constituents by voting yes.

Sunday Liquor Sales Senate vote 2017

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Bill to Repeal Minnesota Ban on Sunday Liquor Sales Clears First Big Hurdle

Step 1: Pass House Commerce – Complete

Rep. Jenifer Loon (R-Eden Prairie) passed an amended bill to repeal Minnesota’s ban on Sunday liquor sales (H.F. 30) through the House Commerce Committee on Tuesday. The bill was amended to limit Sunday hours to 10am – 6pm (a single working shift) and prohibit alcohol products from being delivered on Sundays.

The bill passed 15-4, with dissenters being: – Rep. Jon Applebaum (DFL-Minnetonka), Rep. Greg Davids (R-Preston), Rep. Sheldon Johnson (DFL-St. Paul) and Rep. Chris Swedzinski (R-Ghent).

Step 2: Pass House – Next

The House will need to approve the bill that was passed out of committee. There is a possibility for further amendments, but votes that have been opposed in the past are on board with the current language.

“I think that this issue has been ripe for compromise for years,” said Rep. Laurie Halverson, DFL-Eagan. She voted against the repeal last year on the floor but voted for it in committee Tuesday.
Pioneer Press – January 17, 2017

Step 3: Senate Commerce Hearing – Maybe?

It is typical for a bill to pass through committee before being heard on the floor. Via committee is the traditional path and the one with the greatest odds of success. Senate Commerce Chair Gary Dahms has been noncommittal on a hearing.

State Sen. Gary Dahms, R-Redwood Falls, said Tuesday that he, personally, is not a supporter of lifting the ban and was not yet sure whether the committee he chairs — where the Sunday Sales ban would typically be heard — will hold a hearing on the issue.
Pioneer Press – January 17, 2017

Step 4: Senate Floor

Sunday liquor sales could be offered as an amendment on the Senate floor if Sen. Dahms (R-Redwood Falls) won’t hear it in committee. This would not be an ideal path, but the votes may already be there.

“Do I think I have 34 right now? I think I’m pretty close,” said Sen. Dave Osmek, R-Mound. Bills need 34 votes — a majority — to win Senate approval. “There is a culture changing here that we want to let businesses make decisions for themselves…It is a very populist issue.”
Pioneer Press – January 17, 2017

Step 5: A Bill Becomes a Law

Governor Dayton is on record as being unopposed to Sunday liquor sales. He reaffirmed his stance this week.

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton said he believes the public wants Sunday sales, and he’s willing to sign the bill or let it become law without his signature.
MPRNews.com – January 17, 2017

How to Help: Contact your legislators.

Click Here To Find Your Legislators 

Connect with Leadership

Senator Paul E. Gazelka (R) District 09
Majority Leader
(651) 296-4875
sen.paul.gazelka@senate.mn

Senator Gary H. Dahms (R) District 16
Assistant Majority Leader
(651) 296-8138
sen.gary.dahms@senate.mn

Senator Thomas M. Bakk (DFL) District 03
Minority Leader
(651) 296-8881
Mail Form

Representative Kurt Daudt (R) District: 31A
Speaker of the House
651-296-5364 or 800-710-7642
rep.kurt.daudt@house.mn

Representative Melissa Hortman (DFL) District: 36B
Minority Leader
(651) 296-4280
rep.melissa.hortman@house.mn

Representative Joe Hoppe (R) District: 47B
Chair: Commerce and Regulatory Reform
651-296-5066
rep.joe.hoppe@house.mn

Governor Dayton
(651) 201-3400
Toll Free: 800-657-3717
Mail Form

Get Social

Sign and share the petition to legalize Sunday liquor sales at SundaySalesMN.org

Follow #SundaySalesMN on Facebook & Twitter and invite your friends to do the same.

SundaySalesMN

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House Speaker Daudt Co-Authors Sunday Liquor Sales Bills

House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) and Representative Jenifer Loon (R-Eden Prairie) have introduced legislation to repeal Minnesota’s longstanding ban on off-sale liquor sales on Sundays. The move should come as no surprise. Several legislators made Sunday liquor sales part of their election campaigns. Speaker Daudt has indicated that he thinks a repeal bill could pass the House in the first 30 days of session.

The Bills

The move to modernize the liquor comes as a pair of bills. HF0030 aims at full repeal. HF0031 takes an opt-in / local option approach. Both versions would allow for local control.

The House

The local option approach is likely to resonate with legislators across the aisle from Daudt, as well as within his own caucus. House Minority Leader Melissa Hortman (D-Brooklyn Park) has indicated that she is open to the change and favors local control.

In reality, both bills would allow for local control of Sunday liquor sales. HF0030 would allow municipalities to pass local regulations that are more restrictive than those allowed at the state level. Some could, and likely would, pass noon openings or limited hours. This has always been the case. HF0031 would essentially do the opposite. It would allow municipalities to pass local measures of deregulation. This would also likely result in municipalities with noon openings, limited hours, and full bans still in place.

The Senate

The Minnesota Senate is not as cut and dry as the House of Representatives may appear to be, but there is hope. The large number of new legislators creates a chance for progress on the popular issue. It can be difficult for elected officials to evolve on an issue when they have had a stance several election cycles. New legislators could mean new allies on the issue, but this will only happen if they hear from their constituents. The forces opposed to Sunday liquor sales are probably already whispering in their ears.

New Majority Leader Gazelka (R-Nisswa) has been noncommittal on the issue.

Senator Dahms (R-Rewood Falls) has taken over as the Chair of Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Committee. The previous Chair was reluctant to give repeal bills committee hearings while he received considerable donations from the opposition. One can hope that Senator Dahms will be more willing to listen to constituents and turn away donations.

The Governor

Governor Dayton has been on record as supporting Sunday liquor sales for a while now. Linden Zakula, his Deputy Chief of Staff, recently reaffirmed his position via Twitter.

How to Help

Contact your legislators.

Click Here To Find Your Legislators 

Connect with Leadership

Senator Paul E. Gazelka (R) District 09
Majority Leader
(651) 296-4875
sen.paul.gazelka@senate.mn

Senator Gary H. Dahms (R) District 16
Assistant Majority Leader
(651) 296-8138
sen.gary.dahms@senate.mn

Senator Thomas M. Bakk (DFL) District 03
Minority Leader
(651) 296-8881
Mail Form

Representative Kurt Daudt (R) District: 31A
Speaker of the House
651-296-5364 or 800-710-7642
rep.kurt.daudt@house.mn

Representative Melissa Hortman (DFL) District: 36B
Minority Leader
(651) 296-4280
rep.melissa.hortman@house.mn

Representative Joe Hoppe (R) District: 47B
Chair: Commerce and Regulatory Reform
651-296-5066
rep.joe.hoppe@house.mn

Governor Dayton
(651) 201-3400
Toll Free: 800-657-3717
Mail Form

Get Social

Sign and share the petition to legalize Sunday liquor sales at SundaySalesMN.org

Follow #SundaySalesMN on Facebook & Twitter and invite your friends to do the same.

SundaySalesMN

Legislative Events, Newsfeed

2016 Sunday Liquor Sales Voter’s Guide #SundaySalesMN

Minnesota Beer Activists and SundaySalesMN.org have compiled Minnesota House Candidate & Minnesota Senate Candidate positions on allowing off-sale liquor, beer, and wine sales on Sundays. Please share it with your friends and anyone that may find it useful.

To look up your legislative district, click here. You may also jump to the data you want to see by pressing control-F and typing the name, district or keyword you want to find.

Mobile users should click here for the best view

*Some candidates may still intend to submit survey answers or publicly declare their support. We will keep this survey up to date through the upcoming election. If you think there is an error, or your candidate missed our survey they may contact us here.

Legalize Sunday Liquor Sales Minnesota

Legislative Events, Newsfeed

St. Paul Extends Off-sale Liquor Hours for Stores and Breweries

St. Paul City Council member Chris Tolbert led the charge in making shopping hours a little more reasonable for busy shoppers in the capitol city.

The measure to extend the hours of operation to 10pm Mon-Sat was passed by the City Council with a vote of 5-0.
Liquor store closing times St. Paul
Of course, there were some naysayers. Jim Thomas, of Thomas Liquors, was opposed, as were owners of Park Liquor, and 1st Grand Liquor. But, owners of Selby Wine and Spirits, Christine Liquors, and MGM Liquors were all in support of the change.

The proposal met with opposition from a handful of mom-and-pop retailers, worried about the additional expense of adding night staffing.

But an overwhelming number of letters and emails to city offices, however, supported the change.
Pioneer Press – October 12, 2016

Several Saint Paul brewers supported the extension in business hours. Wabasha Brewing gathered a petition with an impressive number of signatures. After the law goes into effect (30-days from October 12th) Saint Paul brewers will be able to sell growlers of fresh locally made craft beer until 10pm.

Of course, neither brewers or liquor stores will be forced to stay open later, but now they have the option.

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Should Saint Paul Allow Liquor Stores and Brewers to Sell Until 10pm?

Some Saint Paul City Council members are exploring the idea of modernizing the city’s liquor code to match surrounding communities and eliminate consumer confusion.

Right now the City of Saint Paul requires off-sale liquor purchases to end at 8:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Nearly every other municipality sharing a border with Saint Paul is consistent with a 10:00 p.m. closing time Monday-Saturday.

Saint Paul City Council Member Chris Tolbert had this to say in a recent Ward 3 update:

One reason to consider changing the ordinance is because Saint Paul has a burgeoning brewery culture. Right now, with the exception of Sundays’, breweries can only sell growlers during legal hours for off-sale. So while most breweries are open until 10:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday they cannot sell take-home brews for the last two hours of business, meaning lost revenue for the breweries and frustration and confusion for customers.

The Saint Paul City Council will take public commentary on the issue through September 1st. Send your thoughts to Libby Kantner at libby.kantner@ci.stpaul.mn.us. The Council will compile all received comments for public review.

Legislative Events, Newsfeed

Nisswa Minnesota Breweries Petition City Council to Allow Sunday Growler Sales

The brewers are getting restless in Nisswa, MN.

The brewers of Nisswa Minnesota want to be able to sell growlers of their beer on Sundays. The only problem, the Nisswa City Council won’t allow it.

Last year’s legalization of Sunday growler sales has seen widespread success across the Minnesota. However, one of the stipulations of the new law states that brewers must gain approval from their local municipality before being able to take part in the delicious freedom of convenient commerce. So, you have Nisswa Minnesota.

After twice asking, and twice being voted down, the local brewers of Big Axe and Gull Dam are gathering signatures and hoping that the third time is the charm. If anything, obstacles like these lend credence to the opinion that when Sunday liquor sales are legalized, it should be legalized statewide.