House passes Sunday liquor sales bill, will now go to Gov. Dayton

Sunday liquor sales are all but reality in Minnesota, after house members passed an amended bill Thursday afternoon.

Minnesota's House of Representatives voted 88-39 in favor to allow liquor stores to sell alcohol on Sundays between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m by a vote of 88-39.

It had passed a bill last week that would have allowed stores to open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but the Senate amended it so stores would have to open an hour later, to account for workers who attend church.

This amendment was approved by the House, and now it just needs to be signed off by Gov. Dayton, who has previously said he would sign it if it lands on his desk.

It'll probably be next week before it's signed, as Gov. Dayton on Thursday had surgery to remove his prostate cancer at the Mayo Clinic, which his office said went as planned.

Once it's signed, the new law should be enacted on July 1.

City ordinances – like one that’s in place in Rochester – could still prevent liquor stores from being open on Sundays, or could further limit the hours they can sell booze.